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Course Syllabus — The Founders' Constitution
Please note: This is a generic syllabus. The syllabi used by individual professors may differ.
- William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, vol. 1 (1st ed. 1765) (U. Chicago 1979) (ISBN 0-226-05538-8)
- Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (Norton 1987) (ISBN 978-0-393-30405-3)
- The Anti-Federalist: Writings by the Opponents of the Constitution, edited by Herbert J. Storing and selected by Murray Dry from The Complete Anti-Federalist (U. Chicago 1985) (ISBN 0-226-77565-8)
- The Federalist, Gideon Edition, George W. Carey & James McClellan, eds. (Liberty Fund 2001) (ISBN 0-86597-289-3)
- Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, The Pacificus-Helvidius Debates of 1793-1794, Morton J. Frisch, ed. (Liberty Fund 2007) (ISBN 978-0-86597-689-4)
- Creating the Bill of Rights: The Documentary Record from the First Federal Congress, Helen E. Veit et al., eds. (ISBN 0-8018-4100-3)
| Week | Readings |
| Week 1: |
The English Constitution
- Magna Carta
- David Hume, History of England, Vol. 1, pp. 420-54 (on Magna Carta)
- Petition of Right
- English Bill of Rights
- Blackstone, Commentaries, vol. 1, pp. *63-*92, *117-*141, *156-*161
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| Week 2: |
The American Revolution and the New State Governments
- Burke, "Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies"
(pp.235-46)
- Paine, "Common Sense" (Section on the Origin and Design of Government in General and the section presenting Thoughts of the Present State of American Affairs)
(pp.69-75, 84-101)
- Jefferson, "Summary View of the Rights of British America"
(pp.63-89)
- Virginia Declaration of Rights
- Thomas Jefferson's Draft of the Declaration of Independence
- The Declaration of Independence (in Gideon Federalist at 495-99)
- Pennsylvania Constitution (1776)
- Virginia Constitution (1776)
- Massachusetts Constitution (1780)
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| Week 3: |
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention
- Articles of Confederation (in Gideon Federalist at 500-09)
- Northwest Ordinance of 1787
- Virginia Resolution Proposing the Annapolis Convention (in Gideon Federalist at 510)
- Proceedings of Annapolis Convention (in Gideon Federalist at 511-15)
- Call by Continental Congress for Philadelphia Convention (in Gideon Federalist at 518-19)
- Madison's Notes: 28-154
- The Constitution of the United States, as adopted by the Convention (in Gideon Federalist at 526-39)
- Resolution of Federal Convention Submitting Constitution (in Gideon Federalist at 520-21)
- The Federalist 1, 2, 37, 38, 40
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| Week 4: |
The Union and the States
- Madison's Notes: 154-70, 174-201, 209-19, 231-38
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Brutus I (pp. 108-17)
- Agrippa I-III (pp. 229-34)
- Patrick Henry, Speeches of 4-5 June 1788 (pp. 295-315)
- The Federalist 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
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| Week 5: |
The Union and the States, continued
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Federal Farmer I, XVII (pp. 32-39, 87-95)
- Agrippa IV-VII (pp. 234-42)
- The Federalist 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46
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| Week 6: |
Control over Military Force
- Madison's Notes: 478-79, 481-88, 494-95, 512-16, 639-40
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Brutus VIII-IX (pp. 150-58)
- Federal Farmer VII (pp. 73-79)
- Impartial Examiner, 27 February (pp. 283-86)
- Pennsylvania Minority (pp. 219-21)
- The Federalist 8, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 41
|
| Week 7: |
Federal Revenue
- Madison's Notes: 466-69, 479-80, 496-503, 509, 530, 543-45, 641, 644-45
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Brutus V-VII (pp. 133-50)
- Melanchton Smith, Speech of 27 June 1788 (pp. 352-56)
- Patrick Henry, Speech of 7 June 1788 (pp. 321-22)
- The Federalist 12, 13, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36
|
| Week 8: |
Representation in a Large Republic
- Madison's Notes: 211-219, 258-62, 266-88, 348-53, 401-13, 545-46, 552
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Melanchton Smith, Speeches of 20, 21, 27 June 1788 (pp. 332-44, 352-56)
- The Federalist 27, 35, 39
|
| Week 9: |
Representation in a Large Republic, continued
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Brutus III-IV (pp. 122-32)
- Patrick Henry, Speech of 9 June 1788 (pp. 315-21)
- The Federalist 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
|
| Week 10: |
Separation of Powers and Internal Checks
- Madison's Notes: 288-306, 311-13, 338-40, 588, 596-97
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Pennsylvania Minority (pp. 217-219)
- Brutus XVI (pp. 187-91)
- The Federalist 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
|
| Week 11: |
The Federal Executive
- Madison's Notes : 310-13, 322-28, 358-62, 472-477, 534, 594-602
- Federal Farmer XIII-XIV
- Cato, 8 Nov. 1787
- An Old Whig, 11 Dec. 1787
- The Federalist 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77
|
| Week 12: |
The Federal Judiciary
- Madison's Notes: 314-19, 336-43 383, 389, 393, 486-87, 536-40
- The Anti-Federalist:
- Federal Farmer IV (pp. 54-60)
- Brutus XI-XII, XIV-XV (pp. 162-70, 176-87)
- The Federalist 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83
|
| Week 13: |
The Bill of Rights
- Madison's Notes: 485-86, 630
- The Federalist 84
- Madison, "Memorial and Remonstrance"
- Jefferson, "Bill for Establishing Religious Liberty"
- Creating the Bill of Rights: The Documentary Record:
- Proposed amendments from Madison and the states (pp. 11-28)
- Debates:
- 8 June 1789 (pp. 69-95)
- 21 July 1789 (pp. 97-103)
- 13 Aug. 1789, whether to consider amendments in the first session of Congress (pp. 112-28)
- 19 Aug. 1789, instructing representatives, religion (pp. 153-79)
- 17 Aug. 1789, other amendments, double jeopardy and criminal trial procedures (pp. 179-182)
- 22 Aug. 1789, trial rules, direct taxes (pp. 192-193)
- 12 amendments sent to the states, 14 Sept. 1789 (pp. 47-49)
- Jefferson to Madison, 15 March 1789 (pp. 218-220)
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| Week 14: |
The Founders Interpret the Constitution
- The Federalist 85
- Pacificus I, IV, VII; Helvidius I – V
- Debate in the First Congress over the Removal Power (16, 17 June, 1789)
- Madison, Veto Message regarding Bill to Incorporate Episcopal Church (21 February, 1811)
- Controversy over the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798: Virginia Resolution and Debate, Counterresolutions of NY, Del, RI, Mass
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