Last time we talked about the VA Plan vs. the NJ Plan, the compromise committee they formed.The debate over these structural plans was 1 of the 3 biggest issues of the convention.The Big 3 Issues of the Convention:RepresentationExecutive BranchSlaveryDebate pitting big states vs. small states on representation in legislature was crucial part of the argument over VA plan vs. NJ planWhat came out of the compromise committee on govt structure and representation in legislature?The Great CompromiseLike its name, it combined the greatest elements from both plans that both could agree on and included stuff that wasn’t mentioned in the individual plansThe Great Compromise included:A bicameral (two chamber) legislatureHouse and senateHouse of representatives is based on population (part of VA plan)Texas, California, etc. would get more bc they are biggerRepresentatives are elected in two year termsSenate with two representatives from each state that is nominated by the legislature (NJ plan)(Until 1913 & the passage of the 17th amendment, senators were not directly elected)Senators are elected in six year termsAside from representation in legislature, most of other disagreements btwn VA plan & NJ plan were not as intense.One exception:The role of the executiveFounders had to balance 2 competing preferences about the executiveFounders wanted executive to be:Strong, independent executive who could act quicklyIn part due to weak executive under the Articles, who couldn’t do anything useful to execute laws that congress made or effectively fight a war.But were also worried about oppression by a tyrantIn part due to direct experience with the king of England, condition of world at the time (many absolute monarchs) & general fear of the corrupting influence of power on people.The Founders intended the President to have very limited powersEspecially in legislating; the presidency was not originally imagined to be the informal agenda-setter or rallyer of public opinion that it is today.But those actions are not unconstitutional, they would just have surprised the FoundersSome other parts of the contemporary executive branch, like the huge growth of the executive-led bureaucracy & executive orders, would probably have been thought unconstitutional by many FoundersBut the president is able to act quickly and strongly in the powers that are in the constitution(SANA LOVES YOU)You can also observe the relative importance the founders placed on each branch of government by looking at the amount of time spent on each branch in the constitutionCongress (Article 1*) gets by far the most wordsThe President (Article 2*) gets some powers & words, but not as much as congressThe Supreme Court & lower courts that were established (Article 3*) has very little written about it.The President is selected through the Electoral CollegeResult of a compromiseStates, Congress, and citizens have role in decision processNumbers of electoral’s plus equal number of members in the House & SenateHouse decides (by state legislators) if no candidate receives absolute majority (at least 270 of 538) electoral votesThe Constitution makes the President:Independent of Congress & Supreme CourtHas authority to execute (or enforce) the laws that Congress makesHas authority to check ambitious legislature through the vetoRequires supermajority (two-thirds) of Congress to override a President’s veto.Has other independent powers (commander-in-chief, etc.) called “Enumerated Powers” (Article II, Section 2 & 3)But Even where the president is independent, Congress has the ability to check his or her behaviorPresident is Commander in Chief, but Congress is the one who declares war.He conducts foreign policy by making treaties & appointing ambassadors, but Senate has to approve them(CHECKS & BALANCES)In these ways, the Constitution reflects the delegates desire to allow President to act swiftly & decisively with executive power, but only in specific areas & checked by Congress.LECTURE 4: Three Big Issues 7/12/13Last time we talked about the VA Plan vs. the NJ Plan, the compromise committee they formed. The debate over these structural plans was 1 of the 3 biggest issues of the convention. The Big 3 Issues of the Convention:-Representation-Executive Branch-Slavery Debate pitting big states vs. small states on representation in legislature was crucial part of the argument over VA plan vs. NJ planWhat came out of the compromise committee on govt structure and representation in legislature?-The Great CompromiseoLike its name, it combined the greatest elements from both plans that both could agree on and included stuff that wasn’t mentioned in the individual plans The Great Compromise included:-A bicameral (two chamber) legislatureoHouse and senate-House of representatives is based on population (part of VA plan)oTexas, California, etc. would get more bc they are biggeroRepresentatives are elected in two year terms-Senate with two representatives from each state that is nominated by the legislature (NJ plan)o (Until 1913 & the passage of the 17th amendment, senators were not directly elected)oSenators are elected in six year termsAside from representation in legislature, most of other disagreements btwn VA plan & NJ plan were not as intense.-One exception: oThe role of the executive-Founders had to balance 2 competing preferences about the executive Founders wanted executive to be:-Strong, independent executive who could act quicklyoIn part due to weak executive under the Articles, who couldn’tdo anything useful to execute laws that congress made or effectively fight a war.-But were also worried about oppression by a tyrantoIn part due to direct experience with the king of England, condition of world at the time (many absolute monarchs) & general fear of the corrupting influence of power on people.The Founders intended the President to have very limited powers-Especially in legislating; the presidency was not originally imagined to be the informal agenda-setter or rallyer of public opinion that it istoday.oBut those actions are not unconstitutional, they would just have surprised the FoundersoSome other parts of the contemporary executive branch, like the huge growth of the executive-led bureaucracy & executiveorders, would probably have been thought unconstitutional bymany Founders-But the president is able to act quickly and strongly in the powers that are in the constitution(SANA LOVES