The Unwritten Constitution

 

What is it?

 

A set of practices that became traditional and customary although they are NOT written in the Constitution

 

A) Judicial Review: power of the Supreme Court to decide the Constitutionality of laws

 

     Important cases:

           Marbury v. Madison 1803 (judicial

                review)

           Fletcher v. Peck 1810: Court has

                power to review state laws

           Dartmouth College v. Woodward 1819               states cannot pass laws that

                impair private contracts

           McCullough v. Maryland 1819: U.S.

                Bank is Constitutional

           Gibbons v. Ogden 1824: broad

                interpretation of federal govt

                regulation of interstate commerce

 

B) The President’s Cabinet

     Treasury (Hamilton)

     State (Jefferson)

     War (Henry Knox)

     Attorney General (Edmund Randolph)

 

C) Supressing Rebellion:

     Shays Rebellion: showed weakness of

           the Articles

     Whiskey Rebellion: showed the strength

           of Constitution

 

D) Political Parties: Federalists and

     Jeffersonian Republicans

           1) Organize support

           2) Decide on a platform

           3) Nominate candidates

 

E) Lobbying, Pressure Groups, Press

     (influence on legislation)

 

F) Committee System in Congress

 

G) Independence of Executive Authority (not

           a prime minister)