Based on - The framers of the United States Constitution intentionally built points of conflict or tension into the constitutional system for several reasons:

Separation of Powers: The framers established three separate branches of government—the legislative, executive, and judicial branches—with distinct powers and responsibilities. This separation of powers was intended to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful and to checks and balances. By distributing power among multiple branches, the framers sought to ensure that decisions would be subject to scrutiny and debate, reducing the likelihood of tyranny or abuse of power.

Federalism: The framers created a federal system of government in which power is divided between the national government and the state governments. This division of authority was designed to balance the need for a strong central government with the desire to protect states' rights and preserve local autonomy. Federalism allows for experimentation and diversity in policy-making, but it can also lead to conflicts over the distribution of powers and responsibilities between different levels of government.

Bicameral Legislature: The framers established a bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, each with its own set of powers and responsibilities. This bicameral structure was intended to represent the interests of both small and large states, as well as to provide a system of checks and balances within the legislative branch itself. However, it can also lead to conflicts between the two chambers over policy priorities and legislative agendas.

Bill of Rights: The framers included a Bill of Rights in the Constitution to protect individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government. These rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly, are enshrined in the Constitution and cannot be easily overridden by the government. The inclusion of the Bill of Rights reflects the framers' commitment to protecting individual freedoms and ensuring that the government remains accountable to the people.

Overall, the framers built points of conflict or tension into the constitutional system to prevent the consolidation of power, promote accountability and transparency, and protect individual liberties. While this can sometimes lead to gridlock or deadlock in the political process, it also serves as a safeguard against tyranny and ensures that decisions are made through a process of negotiation and compromise.

 

 

compare and contrast the above response with the information learned from the course modules and textbook We the People (Fourteenth Essentials Edition). Explain what the above response did well and what it did not do well, focusing on accuracy, depth, and relevance to the prompt. This compare-and-contrast section MUST CONTAIN *SPECIFIC, PROPERLY CITED* REFERENCES TO THE TEXTBOOK AND COURSE MATERIALS TO RECEIVE CREDIT! Merely citing the textbook as a whole, or a textbook chapter or chapters, or a course item like a PowerPoint file, will not be sufficient to receive credit. You must cite the specific page, or slide number, or subsection title that you are referencing.

 

In particular, the framers wanted a new government that, first, would be strong enough to promote commerce and protect property from radical state legislatures. This goal led to the constitutional provisions for national control over commerce and finance, for national judicial supremacy over state courts, and for a strong presidency.Second, the framers wanted to prevent what they saw as the threat posed by the "excessive democracy" of both state and national governments under the Articles of Confederation. This desire led to such constitutional principles as a bicameral (or two-chambered) legislature; checks and balances among the three branches of government; staggered terms in office; and indirect election (selection of the president by an electoral college and of senators by state legislatures, rather than directly by voters).

Third, lacking the power to force the states or the public to accept the new form of government, the framers wanted to identify principles that would help gain support for it. This goal became the basis of the constitutional provision for direct popular election of representatives and, later, of the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.

Finally, the framers wanted to ensure that the government they created did not pose an even greater threat to its citizens' liberties and property rights than did the radical state legislatures they despised. To prevent abuses of power, they incorporated principles such as the separation of powers and federalism into the Constitution.

 

PROMPT:

Americans often say they dislike the conflict of American politics. In what ways did the framers build points of conflict or tension into the constitutional system? Why did they do it?