Describes the philosophic architecture of the 1787 institutions -- what, in principle, their design theory consisted of. The focus is on what kind of political personality or "leadership figure" was best suited for each branch and how this personification correlated with how close to the people each institution was. The more insulated the branch, the more refined the institutional stagecraft was thought to be. At the end, the focus is upon how democratization took over each of the three federal institutions (with the caveat that the Senate is still not proportional, of course. DOWNLOAD.

Describes how American constitutionalism (and American government) rid itself of the clearly defined sectors of society that in aristocratic life were given sanction to rule society. I call the slide "bulldozing aristocracy" for obvious reasons. :) DOWNLOAD.

The text of the 10th Amendment. DOWNLOAD.

Examines the crimes clause of Article I and asks: how is it that Congress is allowed to wage a drug war? DOWNLOAD.

Examines the list of specifically enumerated powers in Article I. "Simon says." DOWNLOAD.

Examines Congress' Article I powers and asks: how can they do the things that they do?. Is Congress violating the constitution when it governs for the general welfare? DOWNLOAD.

Examines what the commerce clause says. It seems to speak of three basic things. DOWNLOAD.

Two ways that separation of powers might exist. One is a "separatist" idea - I have mine, you have yours -- while the other is a cooperative idea (I take the front end of the job; you the back end). In the latter situation, the idea functions sort of like an assembly line -- both branches working on a different part of the very same chore. This is a different idea than the former, which is more antagonistic. DOWNLOAD.

Conceptualizes the issue present in Cooley v. Board of Wardens. DOWNLOAD.

A plural executive. (rather straight forward). DOWNLOAD.

Takes a look at how the president's important Article II powers are substantively chained to the Congress. This is thought to be a purposeful architectural in the design of American government. It's referred to as putting "the dog on the chain." DOWNLOAD.

The difference between having a corporate executive structure (administrative integration) versus having a disbursed structure of authority (administrative disintegration). DOWNLOAD.

How Madison conceived of faction in Federalist #10. Dual impulse. World view and self interest. Two distinct kinds of negative passions. DOWNLOAD.

Looks at the possible interpretations that could have been made as a substitute for Marshall's broad interpretation. It asks whether or not these (narrow) interpretations would be without problems. DOWNLOAD.

Ah yes, "a tuition moment." This one features the judiciary as "shelob" (the terrible spider) from Lord of the Rings. However, in order for Shelob to eat and move about, it has to rely upon Congress. DOWNLOAD.

Distinguishes between a judiciary that is a defendant creature of the legislature (as in parliamentary-designed system) versus a judiciary that is a co-equal branch (as in a constitutionally-designed system) DOWNLOAD.

Conceptualizes what the judiciary would be like if it were organized as a department of Congress. It would be closer to the political clamor and have to account for its decisions directly to Congress. DOWNLOAD.

What the Commerce Clause means after John Marshall's decision in Gibbons v. Ogden. Slide demonstrates the idea of a broad activity ("commercial intercourse"), but does preserve space for something that can be purely local. DOWNLOAD.

Conceptualizes the factual issue present in New York v. Miln. DOWNLOAD.

Describes the logical structure and organization of parliamentary and constitutional systems. DOWNLOAD.