Contents

14.1 The Development of a Republican “Monarchy”: The Presidential System.............................. 416

14.1.1 The Crisis of Democratic Assembly-Based Governments........................................

14.1.2 The Resurgence of Executive Power........................................................................ 416

14.2 Thirteen States, One Nation: From the Articles

of Confederation to the Federal Republic................................................................................... 417

14.2.1 The Stage of the Constitutional Debate (1783-1787)................................................ 418

14.2.2 The Reopening of a Constitutional Convention....................................................... 420

14.3 The Origins of the Presidential System................................................................................... 422

14.3.1 The Constitutional Convention Endorses the Principle of a Strong National

Government.......................................................................................................................................... 422

14.3.2 The Placement of Limits on Federal Power:

The Strict Application of the Division of Powers and the Establishment of a “Presidential” System 422

14.3.3 A “Great Compromise” for the Legislative Branch (Congress)............................... 423

14.3.4 A President Heading the Executive Branch.............................................................. 423

14.3.5 The Separation of Powers as the Essence of the Presidential System.................... 424

14.3.6 The Judicial Power as a Constitutional Referee:

The Revolutionary Principle of “Judicial Review” as a Safeguard Against the Tyranny of the Majority. 424

14.4 A New Constitution for a New Federal State...........................................................................

14.4.1 Approval and Ratification of the Constitution........................................................... 425

14.4.2 A New Limit on Federal Power: The Bill of Rights.................................................. 426

14.4.3 The Principle of Term Limits.................................................................................... 427

14.4.4 The Constitution as the New Nation’s

Birth Certificate.................................................................................................................................... 427

14.5 Relations Between the States and the Federal Government After 1789................................... 427

14.5.1 The Implementation of Judicial Review.................................................................... 429

14.5.2 From 13 to 50 States.................................................................................................. 430

14.5.3 A Problematic Expansion......................................................................................... 434

14.5.4 The Protection of Fundamental Rights: The Union vs. the States............................. 437

References........................................................................................................................................... 443

14.1