BACK TO BEGINNINGS: ORIGINS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE U.S. POLITICAL PARTIES

A Presentation of the Open University of the Left

The Constitution of the United States is the world's first written template for national government whose authorship is not (directly) attributed to God. This is a big step forward – or backward, if you're a fundamentalist. Nevertheless, it has traditionally been treated as quasi-sacred writ – "the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of men," said British Prime Minister Gladstone. Like all political documents, the Constitution is imprinted by ideology – in this case, the hybrid ideology of an imperial republic. In this session, we'll take a quick
look at the historical background of the Constitution, as well as its underlying philosophy and its relationship to American "exceptionalism." We'll talk about how the Constitution attempts to use the division of powers as a method of self-regulation, rather than resort to political parties. And we'll also provide the answers to the OUL Constitution Quiz. (SEE BELOW.)

From there, we'll segue into a discussion of a book by Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States, titled "Inquiry into the Origin and Course of Political Parties in the United States." This classic insider's account of American politics was edited by his sons and published after his death. This book is available to read online at
www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx

You can find the U.S. Constitution online at www.usconstitution.net/const.html. (This page and its homepage at www.usconstitution.net/ seem to be particularly useful and user friendly.) The Constitution may also be read at www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html

WHO:
Writer and OUL regular HUGH IGLARSH will lead the discussion of the Constitution; GLENN FRITZ, another OUL coordinator, will present the Martin Van Buren book on political parties.

WHEN & WHERE:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 7-9 pm

ACME ART WORKS, 1741 N. WESTERN AVE, two blocks south of the Western/Armitage stop on the CTA Blue Line. Secured parking is available from the alley off St. Paul Street.

HOW MUCH:
$5 donation if you have it; no one turned away.

FOR MORE INFO:
E-mail OULChicago (at) yahoo.com or call 773-384-5797.


ABOUT THE OUL:
The Open University of the Left (OUL) is an independent forum founded in 1987 to organize presentations and discussion groups about politics, literature, philosophy, history and social theory. Events are open to all regardless of political orientation. The OUL's Literature in Three Dimensions series is seeking presenters; if you would like to lead a discussion, please call Hugh Iglarsh at 773/677-5474 or by e-mail at hiiglarsh (at) hotmail.com.

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TAKE OUL's CONSTITUTION QUIZ!

1. "We the People …":
How many signatories are there to the Constitution of the United States? How many from Rhode Island and New York? How many accredited Convention members did NOT sign (or show up)? How many men were actively involved in the drafting discussions?

2. Declaration? What Declaration?:
How often are "natural law," "equality" or "consent of the governed" mentioned in the Constitution? How about "democracy"?

3. Death and Taxes:
Of the 18 powers granted to Congress in Article I Section 8, how many relate directly or indirectly to war? How many to control of taxes, debt, currency and commerce? How many to improvements for the common good?

4. Finding WMD isn't one of them:
For what three purposes enumerated in Article I may Congress mobilize the state militias?

5. A Peculiar Institution, but a durable one:
What single anti-slavery measure is contained in the Constitution? What much more significant pro-slavery (and pro-slave owner) measures are included?

6. Rights, schmights:
How many individual rights are protected in the original Constitution (apart from the Bill of Rights, ratified three years later)? For extra credit, what are they?

7. Carved in stone:
What two features of the Constitution cannot, according to the Constitution, be amended?

8. What have the People done for me lately?:
According to the Oath of Office contained in the Constitution, what does the President swear to protect? Is there an obligation to defend the people of the United States?

9. Pick a name, any name:
In the original Constitution, if no presidential candidate has a majority of electoral votes and the election is thrown into the House of Representatives, who can the House choose among? How does the 12th Amendment alter this arrangement?

10. Hamiltonian Democracy:
How long did Alexander Hamilton originally suggest the President and Senate (as well as the Supreme Court) should serve? And how did he think state governors should be selected? (hint: think Vladimir Putin)

11. And what class would that be?
Which Founding Father said, "The House of Representatives … elected immediately by the people, the Senate by the State legislatures, the President by electors chosen for that purpose by the people, there would be little probability of a common interest to cement these different branches in a predilection for any particular class of electors."

12. Is there a pattern here?
Which Founding Father said, "Divide et impera [i.e., divide and rule], the reprobated axiom of tyranny, is under certain qualifications, the only policy, by which a republic can be administered on just principles"?

13. The limits of freedom:
How much time passed between the ratification of the First Amendment and the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which forbade writing, publishing, or speaking anything of "a false, scandalous and malicious" nature against
the government or its officers? And does the First Amendment really provide universal free-speech protection? How does it differ in construction from the rest of the Bill of Rights?

14. Rum and Rebellion:
How many militia troops did Washington assemble in western Pennsylvania to put down the ragtag Whiskey Rebellion of 1794? (hint: it was a larger force than any he led against the British) How many "rebels" were finally
arrested … and convicted?

15. (Over) due process:
How long was the interval between the introduction of the 27th Amendment and its passage?

16. Huh?
From Article III, Section 3: "The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted." Does
anyone have ANY idea what this means? How would one know if one had violated it?



COMING UP AT OUL:

OCT. 9, SAT. 3PM: NeoCon Lite: The Pop Sociology of David Brooks (New York Times Pundit). Leon Bailey, presenter

OCT. 21, THU. 7PM: Political Fictions: Larry Beinhart's novel "The Librarian" (acclaimed new thriller about a rightwing plot to steal a presidential election). David Williams, presenter

OCT. 23, SAT. 3PM: "Suburbia's Uncertain Future." Viewing and discussion of the documentary "The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream" at North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski. Cosponsored with Chicagoland Urban Permaculture and the Post Carbon Institute.

NOV. 4, THU. 7PM: Postmortem for Democracy? Analyzing the Election

NOV. 18, THU. 7PM: War is Heller: "Catch-22" and Vietnam. Glenn Fritz, presenter

NOV. 20, SAT. 3PM: Not Like TV: "The Sexual Organization of the City" (a sociology of sexuality), Edward O. Laumann, editor. Leon Bailey & panel

DEC. 7, TUE. 7PM: Taken by Surprise ... Again: David Ray Griffin's "The New Pearl Harbor" (questioning 9/11). Harold Taggart, presenter

DEC. 16, THU. 7PM: Romance Amidst Reaction: Stendahl's "The Red and the Black" Eric Miller, presenter