Chapter 2

The Articles of Confederation was an important, yet basic document that stated a partnership between the states. This document left most of the power to the states out of fear of another situation recently escaped from Great Britain. The states had sovereignty which meant that no form of national government had any authority to rule over the states. It did not take long for the Founders to see the Articles having a negative impact on the United States. The Constitution created a concrete system for the US to be run by: legislative structure and authority, executive branch, judiciary branch, and a checks and balance system to ensure proper usage and fair treatment. If the United States still operated under the Articles, I believe that with the states continuing to have the authority over their residents. Congress would have no authority to regulate commerce including taxation, there was no judicial branch or executive branch, and any amendments had to be met with complete agreement between all states. With these issues, debt would abound, economic growth would be at a minimum to non-existent, and no military power could have been incredibly detrimental to the nation.

Somehow I actually had no clue that the Vice President would be President of the Senate and have no vote, unless equally divided. I also did not know that the United States was not allowed to grant a title of nobility (which if you think about it is fairly obvious considering we have no system involving nobility titles) or ALSO that anyone in the Office of Profit or Trust can accept something without consent of Congress from a King, Prince, or foreign state. Being unable to accept a gift is an assumption I’ve always believed, however I did not know that Congress had the power to give consent for bribes, gifts, or whatever name they would like to call it.

Marbury vs Madison is incredibly important when dealing with the fairness of our legal system. It was incredibly important that we know this case and understand what it accomplished. Prior to this case, there was no way for any to overrule Congress when they attempt to pass a law that goes against the Constitution and could create a lifestyle for this nation that is against what the intentions and efforts were for. Judicial review, the authority granted through this case, gives the Supreme Court to ensure all fairness and protect the nation against anything that does not follow the Constitution.

I find it hard to discern whether our government is more the Federalist view or the Anti-Federalist. We have a President in office who does not deserve to be in office, who is throwing our country away, sending our troops to war, incorporating Muslim terms and practices into a healthcare bill that Congress didn’t even read when they passed it, and others in positions of power who support the worst president we could ever see simply because of his race. I guess this would mean that, although the support is based on the fact that our President is black, we are more of what the Anti-Federalists feared. We are run by a group, or groups, who care more about the power and the position than they do the well-being of their country. It has been obvious for quite some time that our President holds no concern over the well-being of our soldiers, our families, our health, or our freedoms. 

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Nathan Tollett
Robert Johnston
Rebecca Zuchowski