Question

List three primary criticisms of the new constitution made by brutus

Answer 1

Brutus had three primary criticisms of the new Constitution: centralized power, lack of a Bill of Rights, and weak state governments.

Step-by-step explanation:

Brutus, an Anti-Federalist, had several primary criticisms of the new Constitution:

1. Centralized Power: Brutus argued that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the hands of a strong central government, similar to the British monarchy. He believed this would lead to tyranny and the loss of individual liberties.
2. Lack of Bill of Rights: Brutus criticized the Constitution for not including a Bill of Rights, which would protect the rights and freedoms of citizens. Without these explicit protections, he feared that the government could infringe on individual liberties.
3. Weak State Governments: Brutus was concerned that the Constitution weakened the power of state governments by giving too much authority to the federal government. He believed this would disrupt the balance of power and undermine the independence of the states.

Answer 2

The people's liberties: In his view, the new Constitution requires the people to give up too many rights. Immense power of the federal government in the Constitution requires people to sacrifice their liberties. A Bill of Rights was necessary to protect people from the government.

Powers and Representation on the Legislative Branch: Brutus writes that Congress possesses too much power, especially over the states. He prefers a number of independent states entering into a compact one, in which they have a common interest, leaving the management of their internal and local affairs to their separate governments.

He also argues that, a free republic cannot exist in such a large territory as the United States; he states that a true free republic comes from the people, not representatives of the people. Brutus also questions the validity of the Three Fifths Compromise, which says that slaves would be counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxing purposes, if by that time slaves did not count as official citizens they should not be counted regarding those issues. He also sees danger in giving Congress the power to modify the election of its own members and disagrees with the method of electing senators as well as the six-year term they are given.

Judiciary branch: Brutus argues that the power given to the judiciary will increase the jurisdictions of the courts, extend legislative authority, and diminish and destroy the legislative and judiciary powers of the states. The Supreme Court can interpret the constitution according to its "spirit and reason". Like in Britain, this allows them to "mold the governments into almost any shape they please".