1.  Professional communications
 Subject line
 Use an appropriate salutation
 Hi, Dr. Oldmixon; Dear Dr. Oldmixon
 Don’t expect an instant response
 Think about why you’re writing and ask a question
 Close with your name and class
 Sincerely, John Doe, PSCI 1040
How to email a professor

2. The US and Texas
Constitutions

3. Revolution to Constitution

4. A little history…
 Home Rule
 French and Indian War, 1754-1763
 Stamp Act of 1765
 Tea Act of 1773
 Intolerable Acts
 First (1774) and Second (1775) Continental Congresses

5. When in the Course of human events, it
becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected them
with another, and to assume among the powers
of the earth, the separate and equal station to
which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God
entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of
mankind requires that they should declare the
causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed
• July 4, 1776
• Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of
Independence

6. Articles of Confederation, 1781-1789
 Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
 Confederation
 How is the national government structured?

7. What was wrong with the Articles?

8. Crafting the Constitution

9. Fundamental
Problem
“If men were angels, no
government would be
necessary. If angels were to
govern men, neither external
nor internal control on
government would be
necessary….You must first
enable government to control
the governed; and in the next
place oblige it to control
itself.” Madison, F51
• How do you create an
effective government
that does not
encourage tyranny?
• No good examples

10. Representation of States
 Virginia Plan – state population
 New Jersey Plan – state equality
 The Great Compromise

11.  Northern interests
 Southern interests
 Three-fifths Compromise
 Logroll
Slavery and Economics

12. Representatives and direct
Taxes shall be apportioned
among the several States
…according to their
respective Numbers, which
shall be determined by
adding to the whole Number
of free Persons, including
those bound to Service for a
Term of Years, and excluding
Indians not taxed, three fifths
of all other Persons.
Three-fifths
compromise

13. The Migration or Importation
of such Persons as any of the
States now existing shall think
proper to admit, shall not be
prohibited by the Congress
prior to the Year one
thousand eight hundred and
eight, but a Tax or duty may
be imposed on such
Importation, not exceeding
ten dollars for each Person.
Kicking the can on
slavery

14. No Tax or Duty shall be laid on
Articles exported from any
State.
Exports

15. • Separation of powers
• Checks and balances
• Federalism
Design Principles

16. Confidence in the men of our choice is that parent of
despotism; it is jealousy and confidence which prescribes
limited constitutions to bind down those whom we are
obliged to trust with power. ~ Jefferson

17.  1789
 State level constitutional conventions, 9
 Federalists and Anti-Federalists
 Bill of Rights, 1791
Ratification

18. Amending the Constitution

19.  >10k offered, 33 proposed, 27 ratified
 Broad consensus
 Higher law
It’s difficult and rare!

21. • What do they do?
Successful
Amendments

22.  Federalism
 Women’s suffrage (19th Amendment)
 Prohibition (18th Amendment)
 Interpretation
 “lay and collect taxes”
 “The Congress shall have Power To...regulate
Commerce...among the several States....”
Adaptability

23.  A new constitution every
generation
 “The earth belongs always
to the living generation.”
Time for a new constitution?

24. How the United States has changed since Constitution was
ratified? Given the changes, think about the ways in which
the Constitution might be changed.
 Rights
 The president
 The Congress
 Federalism

25. Liberty
Order
 Federalist 10
 Electoral filters
 Appointed judges
 No referenda
 Senate representation
 Franchise
Limits to majority rule

26. The Texas Constitution

27.  Federalism
 Texas has had seven!
 Constitution of 1866
 Constitution of 1869
 Reconstruction Act of 1867
 Dems in 1872
States constitutions

28.  Liberal versus statutory
 The Grange
 Principles
 Limited government
 Popular sovereignty
 Separation of powers
Constitution of 1876

29.  Goals
 Bill of Rights
 Traditional articles
 Tremendous detail
Design and Structure

30. Amendment Process
Proposal Statement Publication Vote

32. • Weak executive
• Part-time legislature
• Elected judiciary
• Special elections
Problems?