The Constitution in American Life - Fall 2025 E5: Majority Rule, Minority Rights

Описание: Presenting a round table discussion for all teachers and students of government and civics. Sources are linked to provide audience opportunity for deeper study.

Fall 2025 E5: Majority Rule, Minority Rights and the Bill of Rights


Discussion Question Unit 5 Question 3

How does the Bill of Rights heed Madison’s concern and protect minorities against the danger of majorities?
To what extent, if any, should individual rights set forth in the Bill of Rights be limited by the will of the majority?
Which rights do you think need the most protection today, and why?


Key Topics:

0:00 Intro

9:29
Can you explain the meaning of the quote by Madison. Is he referring to mobocracy existing outside the institutions of government? Also, do political majorities need rights protections?

20:11
Can you explain why Madison was opposed to the idea of a Bill of Rights and how his view that the Constitution provided all the protection needed from tyrannical government?

28:36
Can you explain the conditions and context in which constitutional rights can be limited by state or national legislatures?

37:07
It seems to me that the Bill of Rights plays almost no role in American government in the first 100 years of our history and that the 14th Amendment plays a far more significant role in the lives of the American people over the course of our entire history. Do you agree?




45:16
I am wondering, if we had used positive constitutional language rather than negative when designing our rights regime would that have more effectively restrained political majorities? Why?

53:00
The 1950’s-1070’s are seen as a period of a “rights revolution.” Some scholars argue that in the 21st century we are experiencing a “rights counter-revolution. Do you agree?

1:04:15
Final Thoughts and Recommendations



Resources:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15...