Please contact me at lee.hannah@psu.edu for original files.

1. Day 3 – The Design of Congress
June 28, 2013

2. In the News
 Senate passes historic immigration bill.
 http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3036789/#52338497

3. Readings
 Article I of the U.S. Constitution
 Federalist No. 51
 DOL Chapter 2 (pp.15-28)

4. Early National Government in America
 Rise of state governments and assemblies as early
as 1619.
 Why did Britain grant the colonies so much discretion in
local government?
 This relationship became more contentious in the
1760s.
 In 1765, delegates from 9 colonies meet in New York City
in reaction to the Stamp Act.
 Concerns over high taxes levied by the British without the
same rights and representation.
 Declaration of Rights and Grievances, mainly written by
John Dickinson.

5. Early National Government in America (2)
 The late-1760s – mid-1770s characterized as period of
increasing tensions between America and Britain.
 Intolerable Acts
 1774 – First Continental Congress convenes in
Philadelphia.
 Delegates from 12 colonies make debate and create
resolutions.
 56 delegates, each state gets 1 vote
 1775 – Second Continental Congress convenes
 Petition for “happy and permanent reconciliation”
 George III’s response:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JTxVHQAp8w
 Reconvene and debate and eventually sign the Declaration of
Independence.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a36F6vwB-t0
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrvpZxMfKaU

6. Constitutional Convention
 Clip from John Adams
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcWaCsvpikQ

7. The Federalist Papers (1787-1788)
 Written and published in three New York
newspapers: the Independent Journal, the New-York
Packet, and the Daily Advertiser.
 Authors: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John
Jay under the pseudonym “Publius”.
 A response to Anti-Federalists
 An argument to the states deciding on ratification of the
Constitution
 Federalist #51 – James Madison

8. The Call for a Strong Legislature
 “Although the three branches supposedly are
coequal, the legislature is empowered to define the
structure and duties of the other two.”
 Examples of Congress’ authority over the Executive
Branch? Judicial Branch?
 Congress’s powers greatly enlarged by the Civil War
amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments)

9. Announcements
 In Class Response Essay #1 on Monday
 Look over the Legislative Portfolio assignment.
 Decide if you want to work alone or with somebody.
 Decide which states you would be interested in.
 I will pass around a sign-up sheet both for preferred state
and meeting times next week.

10. In Class Response Essay
 In roughly one handwritten page, answer the following
question. You can use your notes to answer the
question.
 Both the text (DOL pp.28-40) and Polsby (1968) discuss
the increasing “institutionalization” of Congress. Many
argue that institutionalization is bad for the country and is
the reason why Congress is ineffective. This has led to
a number citizens and groups to advocate imposing term-
limits on members of Congress (e.g. establishing a
maximum number of terms they can serve). Would you
support a constitutional amendment that imposed term-
limits on members of the House of Representatives?
Why yes or no? Use the course material to support your
argument.


17. Source: http://www.ncsl.org/legislatures-elections/legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx