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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The State Of Our Republic: State Constitutions’ Role In Creating A More Perfect Union, Caroline Bullock
The State Of Our Republic: State Constitutions’ Role In Creating A More Perfect Union, Caroline Bullock
CMC Senior Theses
This thesis situates state constitutionalism in the modern context of federal constitutional paralysis. By tracing patterns of state constitutional development, we find that states were always the fundamental setting of democracy, and there has always been critical action happening at state legislatures, in state courts, and through state constitutional change. State constitutions provide an active means to achieve progress and protect rights not federally enshrined (and thus, endangered by the political process). The use of state constitutions to prescribe ways of life, protect individual and specialized rights, and to limit local governments has always occurred, but with the current federal …
Healthy And Unhealthy Responses To American Democratic Institutional Failure, Thomas D'Anieri
Healthy And Unhealthy Responses To American Democratic Institutional Failure, Thomas D'Anieri
CMC Senior Theses
I have set out on the hunch that politics in America “feels different,” that we are frustrated both with our institutions as well as with one another. First, I will seek to empirically verify this claim beyond mere “feelings.” If it can be shown that these kinds of discontent genuinely exist to the extent that I believe they do, I will then explain why people feel this way and why things are different this time from the economic, political, and social points of view. Next, I will examine two potential responses, what I will call the populist and the institutional …
“Of Every Sort”: Conceptions Of Property Rights At The Time Of The American Founding, Zachary Wong
“Of Every Sort”: Conceptions Of Property Rights At The Time Of The American Founding, Zachary Wong
CMC Senior Theses
The most contentious issues of our day often have to do with political and social rights as opposed to economic rights. Through the lens of property rights I investigate whether this dichotomy existed at the time of the American founding. First, I examine the state constitutions and identify three clauses, common to the documents, which protect property rights. I examine their historical basis and reveal their connection to English common law and Locke, primarily. Then, I discuss the personal views of Madison and Jefferson to gain insight into the personal thoughts of two of the most influential Founders. Finally, I …