As the supreme law of the land, the US Constitution incorporates basic principles that help define the Constitution of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers, and relationship with the governed. Explain in context one of the basic principles that help define the government of the United States.
The Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States. Cite arguments from the Federalist papers and/or the Anti-Federalist Papers that supported their position on the issue of how well the Constitution upheld the principle of limited government.
Constitutional government in the United States has changed over time as a result of the amendments to the United States Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and informal practices. Select an example of how constitutional government in the United States has changed the meaning and application of any one of the basic principles that help define the government of the United States and summarize the nature of the change.
The Ohio Constitution was drafted in 1851 to address difficulties in governing the state of Ohio. Provide examples of how the 1851 Ohio Constitution addressed difficulties in governing Ohio at that time.
As a framework the state, the Ohio Constitution complements the federal structure of the government of the United States. Determine how the Ohio Constitution complements the federal structure of government in the United States and compare the structures, powers, and relationships between both levels of government as defined in the Constitution of Ohio and the Constitution of the United States.
Responses:
One of the basic principles that helps define the government of the United States is popular sovereignty. Trying to avoid a monarchial or doctoral style of government, citizens wanted to have a voice in all government decisions. To have a voice in government, citizens are given the right through people expressing themselves through voting for representatives and free participation in the government.
In the Federalist Papers, Federalists explained in the forty-fifth issue "The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite." Even though Federalists believed federal power was defined and limited since the states still had power, the Anti-Federalists disagreed. Anti-Federalists thought a Bill of Rights must be included in the Constitution in order to secure citizens' individual liberties. In the Constitution, opinions from Federalists and Anti-Federalists are included. However, Federalists achieved basic principles of government with the ratification of the Constitution while Anti-Federalists achieved their goal of including a Bill of Rights.
The constitutional government has changed the meaning of the fourteenth amendment, which granted citizenship to all male persons born in the United States. For fifty two years, males of any race were allowed to vote; however, women were given the right to vote in 1920. The United States basic principle of popular sovereignty was changed after the women's suffrage movement impacted the fourteenth amendment.
The 1851 Ohio Constitution addressed difficulties in governing Ohio as major executive and judges were elected by popular vote instead of by Ohio's legislature. Although the governor's powers did not increase significantly, but the legislature could no longer enact laws that were prohibited as laws were required to be uniform statewide. To reduce Ohio Supreme Court's burden, district courts were added to the court system. Reducing the issue of Ohio's debt was made possible as the 1851 Ohio Constitution established debt limitations, banned poll taxes, and required tax funds to only be used for its intended purpose.
The Ohio Constitution complements the federal structure of the government of the United States as the people elect representatives to be their voice in the government. Powers of the Ohio Constitution and the United States Constitution are consistent as a result of Article Six, which explains the outline of the federal government. To add, the Ohio Constitution outlines the powers and functions of the state government while also providing an outline for local governments. Both governments have three branches of government to create laws, to enforce laws, and to interpret laws while making sure one branch does not abuse its power.