DOCUMENT RESUME ED 349 272 SO 022 055 TITLE Contemporary Perspectives on the Enduring Constitucion: A Bicentennial Primer. INSTITUTION American Bar Association, Chicago, Ill. Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship. SPONS AGENCY Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, Washington, DC.; Department of Education, Washington, DC. REPORT NO ISBN-0-89707623-0 PUB DATE 91 CONTRACT 88-CB-CX-0038; G008720289 NOTE 92p.; Papers based on presentations made at the Leon Jacorski Constitutional Institute (Philadelphia, PA, June, 1988). PUB TYPE Collected Works - General (020) -- Speeches/Conference Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Citizenship Education; *Constitutional History; *Constitutional Law; Elementary Secondary Education; *Governmental Structure; Law Related Education; Political Science; Social Studies; *United States History IDENTIFIERS *United States Conytitution ABSTRACT The 17 essays included in this book are designed to provide educators and other interested readers with contemporary perspectives on a broad range of themes and topics concerning the U.S. Constitution. The authors are a distinguished group of historians, political scientists, legal scholars, and jurists. The essays include: "The Achievement of the Constitution as Viewed by the Leading Federalists" (Thomas L. Pangle); "The Contributions of the States to American Constitutionalism" (George Dargo); "The Drafting of the Constitution" (Margaret Pace Duckett); "The Senate the Framers C,:eated and Its Legacy Today" (Richard A., Baker); "The First Federal Congtqss" (Charlene N. Bickford); "The Confirmation Process and the Separat.',on of Powers" (Hon. Patti B. Saris); "The Article III JudiciaryThe Ideal and the Reality" (Hon. Kenneth F. Ripple); "Focal Themes and Issues for Teaching about the Federal Judiciary" (Kent Newmyer); "The Work of the Supreme Court and Sources of Information about It" (Jeffrey Morris); "The Institution of the Presidency under Article II" (Thomas E. Cronin); "The Constitution and the Conduct of Foreign Affairs" (David. G. Adler); "Does the Constitution Matter to the Presidency Today?" (Nancy Kassop); "Ratifying the Conotitution: The State Context" (John P. Kaminski); "The Debate over RatifiL:ation in Virginia" (Richard R. Beerman); "The Debate over Ratification in New York" (Stephen L. Schechter); "The Constitution: A Political Document with an hmbitious Legacy" (James A. Henretta); and "Women and the Coastitution: The Equal Rights Amendment" (Winifred Wandersee). (DB) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EOUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) f....)T lis documerhas been reproduced 86 recopvi51 trom the person ororganization originating ii r Minor changes have beenmade to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions slated inthis docu- ment do not necessarilyrepresnnt official OERI posilio» or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS RIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY c, Ptiqvc TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Contemporary Perspectives onthe Enduring t.0 0 Constitution A Bicentennial Primer BEsToriAir AnWriC,111 Hiir Ni1-;()ClatIon Spectal Committee On Youth Lduoatton fur CIttienshtf) \woo Contemporary Perspectives onthe Enduring Constitution A Bicentennial Primer American Bar Association A3kAMI !BCAN FAI ASIA )CIATIGN Special Con irnittee on Youth Education for Citizenship American Bar Association Special Committee and Advisory Commission 01 Youth Educ 'ion Far Citizenship The Special Committee Alan Levine,Chairman James P. Persinger Charles L. Becton James E. Phillips Marvin S.C. Dang David Ramirez Al EllisSteven J. Uhlfelder Frederica Massiah-Jackson Mark Whitener The Advisory Commission Jean Craven Paul Murphy Arlene F. Gallagher David T. Naylor Celene Greene John Patrick Frances Haley Donald Robinson Jack I Ioar Isidore Starr James Lengel Barbara Yentzer Staff Mabel C. McKinney-Browning, Staff Director George S. Perry, Jr., Assistant Staff Director foward Kaplan, Project Coordinator Paula A. Nessel, Project Coordinator Peg Rider, Project Coordinator Jack Wolowiec, Publications Coordinator Lanita E. Hayes, Administrative Assistant Beverley M. Ware, Secretary 'Hie !mints of view or ovillions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the American Bar A.ssociation, the Special Committee on Youth Education for Citiz,enship, the Commission On the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution or the U.S. Department of Education. ( yright (1) 1991 American Bar Association ,ihrary of Congress Cata'og Card Number 90-B6310 ISBN: 0-89707-623-0 CONTENTS Introduction iv Acknowledgements The Foundation of the Constitution The Achievement of the Constitution as Viewed by the Leading Federalists Thomas L. Pangle 3 The Contributions of the States to American Constitutionalism George Dargo 9 The Drafting of the Constitution Margaret Pace Duckett 12 The Congress The Senate the Framers Created and Its Legacy Today Richard A. Baker 19 The First Federal Congress Charlene N. Bickford 26 The Confirmation Process and the Separation of Powers Hon. Patti 13. Saris 30 The Judiciary The Article III JudiciaryThe Ideal and the Reality Hon. Kenneth F. Ripple 37 Focal Themes and Issues for Teaching About the Federal Judiciary Kent Newmyer 42 The Work of the Supreme Court and Sources of Information About It jeffiey Morris. 46 The Presidency The Institution of the Presidency Under Article II Thomas E. Cronin 51 The Constitution and the Conduct of Foreign Affairs David G. Adler 56 Does the Constitution Matter to the Presidency Today? Nancy Kassop 61 The Ratification of the Constitution Ratifying the Constitution: The State Context John P. Kaminski 67 The Debate Over Ratification in Virginia Richard R. Beeman 71 The Debate Over Ratification in New York Stephen L. Schechter 76 Equal Justice Under the Constitution The Constitution: A Political Document with an Ambiguous Legacy James A. 1-lenretta 81 Women and the Constitution: The Equal Rights Amendment Winifred Wandersee 87 5 INTRODUCTION In 1988, the American Bar Association Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship conducted the first of its summer institutes for teacherson the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It brought together an impressivearray of scholars and practitioners who provided participants with knowledge, perspective, and insight. It challenged participants to explore the intricacies of these docu- ments in ways that many had not considered. The Institute was an exciting and stimulating learning experience for all who took part in it. Presenters remarked on the quality, enthusiasm, and knowledge of our participants; participants were likewise impressed by the willingness of presenters to share both knowledge and experience in ways that gave new mea;i- ing to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Our staff, in particular,was gratified by the high level of professionalism and collegiality that both presenters and partici- pants brought to the Institute. The mutual sharing of time, talent and energy that characterized the Institute was key to its success. Planning for the Institute represented the best in collegial collaborationas well. Members of the ABA Special Committee and Advisory Commissionon Youth Education for Citizenship worked with staff from concept to completion. As always, we are grateful for the counsel and support provided by this distinguished group of lawyers and educators; our efforts are cnriched through their participa- tion and commitment. I particularly wish to thank Dr. Isidore Starr. His long- standing commitment to providing quality educational experiences for teachers is evident in this Institute, In his own words, "We just have to provide this opportu- nity." The Institute, too, reflects the scholarship, commitment, and hard work of YEFC project coordinator Howard Kaplan. His careful nurturing of the creative contributions of his colleagues resulted in an excellent and truly memorable program. Mabel C. McKinney-Browning Staff Director Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The essays included in this book are designed to provide educators and other interested individuals with contemporary perspectives on a broad range of funda- mental constitutional themes and topics. They are based upon presentations made at the Leon Jaworski Constitutional Institute, conducted by the ABA's Special Committee on Youth Education for Citizenship at the University of Pennsylvania in June 1988. In copy editing this cAlection of essays, a special effort was made to preserve the original flavor and immediacy of the oral presentations while at the same time maintaining high professional standards of readability and editorial consistency. This task was principally the work of Louise Kaegi, an experienced editor of legal and educational materials, who edited the initial transcriptions and worked directly with the authors on final edits and revisions of -he manusilript. Also providing editorial assistance at various stages of the project were VEIT, staff members Mabel McKinney-Browning, Howard Kaplan and Jack Wolowiec. Mr.Wolowiec, YEFC's Publications Coordinator, was principally responsible fo coordinating and overseeing final production of this publication. Sara Podell, who served as an editorial intern with the ABA's Public Education Division during summer 1990, also provided editorial help inorder to finalize th,.! project. Sheila Donohue, a freelance designer, was responsible for the cover design, layout and typesetting of the book. Thanks