Chapter VI: The Checks and Balances of the Constitution

A cure for the evils of democracy 125 Evolutionary classification of governments 128 Substitutes for king and aristocracy 130 Relation of the theory of checks and balances to _laissez faire_ and anarchism 131 Purpose of indirect election 134 Subordination of the House of Representatives 137 Impeachment made difficult 142 Significance of the President's oath of office 146 The House of Representatives in relation to the budget 148 Lack of adequate provision for publicity 150 Attitude of the framers toward criticism of public officials 152 Federal versus national government 160 Relation of the general to the state governments not clearly defined 162 Effort to lay the foundation of a national government 164 Origin and development of the doctrine of nullification 168 Calhoun's theory of the Constitution 174 The judiciary act of 1789 182

CHAPTER VII

UNDEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT

The influence of checks upon the development of our political institutions 186 The House of Representatives an irresponsible body during the second regular session 189 Congress has power to remedy the evil 191 The committee system a check on the majority 193 The speaker's power to thwart legislation 199 The system encourages log-rolling 200

CHAPTER VIII

THE PARTY SYSTEM

Conservative opposition to party government in the eighteenth century 203 The effort of the framers to guard against the possibility of responsible party government 205 Difference between the English and the American party system 208 Influence of the Constitution upon the party system not generally recognized 210 The evils of our party system attributed by conservative writers to majority rule 212 Character of our party platforms 218 True party government impossible under our constitutional system 226

CHAPTER IX

CHANGES IN THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS AFTER 1787

Development of the judicial veto 230 Limitation of the power to impeach 231 Extension of the term of office of governor and members of the legislature 232 Amendment of the constitution made more difficult 235 Influence of democracy upon the state constitutions 239 Division of authority in the state government 243 Lack of effective responsibility 245