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Evolution of the U.S. Constitutional Framework: From Articles of Confederation to the Roberts Court

Explore the pivotal periods and key court decisions shaping the U.S. constitution, from the Articles of Confederation to the present Roberts Court. Learn about the influences, challenges, and landmark rulings that have defined the nation's legal principles and constitutional development.

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Evolution of the U.S. Constitutional Framework: From Articles of Confederation to the Roberts Court

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  1. Constitutionalism and Rule of Law

  2. Constitutions and the Rule of Law • Law – latin lex, legare (to bind) • Constitution – body of fundamental principles by which a nation is governed

  3. Foundational Sources • Three Distinct Documents: • Declaration of Independence • Articles of Confederation • U.S. Constitution

  4. Articles of Confederation • 1781-1789 • Basic structure of a confederation • Problems under the Articles

  5. Philadelphia Convention • Delegates to the 1787 meeting • Nature of the debates • Federalists v. Anti-Federalists • The Issue of Slavery

  6. Ratification of the Constitution • No need for unanimity among the states. • Nine out of thirteen sufficient • Federalist Papers (articles of propaganda) used to convince states to ratify.

  7. The Early Court1789-1800 • Few Cases • A lot of turnover among the justices • Chisholm v. Georgia (1793) effectively overturned by the passage of the 11th Amendment • Generally regarded as the weakest branch

  8. The Marshall Court(1801-1836) • More active court • Generally, decisions expanded the power of the federal government • Number of landmark rulings • Marbury v. Madison (1803) • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) • Gibbons v. Odgen (1824)

  9. The Taney Court(1836-1865) • Decisions tended to favor state interests over those of the federal government • Most (in)famous decision • Dred Scott v. Sandford (1856)

  10. The Reconstruction Era(1865-1900) • Addressed post-Civil War challenges and early issues of the Industrial Revolution • Limited scope and effect of post-Civil War Amendments • Most notable cases • Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) • Civil Rights Cases (1888) • Santa Clara Co. v. S. Pacific Railroad Co. (1886)

  11. Pre-New Deal Era(1900-1937) • Limited government’s ability to regulate business • Developed a theory of “liberty of contract” • Frustrated FDR’s New Deal legislation • Notable Case • Lochner v. New York (1905)

  12. The New Deal Era(1937-1953) • Began approving FDR’s New Deal legislation as being constitutional • Moment known as the “Switch in Time that Saved Nine” • Allowed federal government to address conditions brought by the Industrial Revolution and Great Depression • Notable Case • West Coast Hotel v. Parrish (1937)

  13. The Warren Court(1953-1969) • Dramatic expansion of civil liberties and individual rights • Noteable Cases • Brown v. Bd. of Education (1954) • Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) • Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

  14. The Burger Court(1969-1986) • Continued expansion of individual liberties in some areas • Roe v. Wade (1973) • Expansion of protections against sex-based discrimination • But in other areas more conservative rulings than the Warren Court.

  15. The Rehnquist Court(1986-2005) • Also known as the “Republican Era” of the Court • All justices but two appointed by Republican presidents • Many conservative rulings that limited or reversed rulings by the Warren Court • Notable cases • Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) • Bush v. Gore (2000)

  16. The Roberts Court(2005-Present) • Still regarded as a conservative Court • Many 5-4 rulings • Too new to judge

  17. Eighth Amendment’s Other Provisions • Excessive bail provision • Provides that amount of bail cannot be excessive • Excessive Fine provision • Provides that fines cannot be excessive • Supreme Court has yet to formally apply these provisions to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment due process clause • May run afoul of other constitutional standards, including equal protection

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