The Constitution Is A Living Document - 1269 Words

THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING DOCUMENT At the end of the twentieth century, there have been 159 constitutions written for various countries in the world, 101 of them enacted just since 1970. France, for example, has had ten different constitutions including five republics, two empires, a monarchy, and two dictatorships. The country of El Salvador has had thirty-six constitutions since 1824. The United States, however, has the oldest written framework for the governing of a nation in the world and has functioned under that same framework for over two hundred years. Nearly all current constitutions bear at least some resemblance to the one written in Philadelphia, in 1787, by men who met to work out the framework of the United States government. Like the Constitution of the United States, many countries have written constitutions. Their constitutions spell out human and civil rights similar to those written in the United States Constitution. Many nations have imitated principles written in the American At the end of the twentieth century, there have been 159 constitutions written for various countries in the world, 101 of them enacted just since 1970. France, for example, has had ten different constitutions including five republics, two empires, a monarchy, and two dictatorships. The country of El Salvador has had thirty-six constitutions since 1824. The United States, however, has the oldest written framework for the governing of a nation in the world and hasShow MoreRelatedThe Constitutional Convention Of 17871383 Words   |  6 Pagessolut ion was for the executive power to be checked by the legislature as a means to best represent the people. Hamilton instead believed that the federal government should be based upon the British constitution and monarchy. At the convention s conclusion, the delegates had created the U.S. Constitution which included several major political compromises among the differing factions within the Constitutional Convention. (Dahl, Debate on Representation, Lecture) The Great Compromise, also known asRead MoreThe Debate Over The Method Of Constitutional Interpretation1556 Words   |  7 Pagescontenders of a loose interpretation argue that our understanding of the Constitution adapt with our society today and new developments that have been formed since it was first written. Conversely, strict constructionists argue that the interpretation of the Constitution must be based off of what is plainly written in the Constitution- nothing more and nothing less. The purpose of the Founding Fathers in 1787 was to construct a document that they believed would help pave the way for the American governmentRead MoreA comparison of the United States Constitution And The Declaration of Independence712 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction The United States Constitution and The Declaration of Independence are two of America s most famous documents that laid the foundation for it s independence as a nation and separation from British rule. The following paper will compare these two documents and decipher the difference of the two. While both Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution contain important information regarding America s independence they are also different in many respects. DraftedRead MoreThe Debate On Constitutional Interpretation1730 Words   |  7 PagesThe debate on Constitutional interpretation is far from a new one. For years, the argument over how the Constitution should be read has varied, from the strict textualist approach to the most lenient, the instrumentalist position. The Constitution has long been referred to in terms of being a living or dead document, and its interpretation has significant ramifications on this country’s legal climate. This paper will analyze and compare two different forms of Constitutional interpretation: originalismRead MoreConstitutional Interpretation of Checks and Balances Essay1671 Words   |  7 PagesInterpretation of Checks and Balances The problem of interpreting the Constitution and framer’s intent is a constantly permeating and troublesome question in the minds of Supreme Court Justices, judges, prominent politicians, and policy makers alike. It is a problem that has been pondered for years and years in the courtrooms and on paper with no real conclusion. One such essay arguing this dilemma is â€Å"How Not to Read the Constitution† by Laurence H. Tribe and Michael C. Dorf, who explore the questionsRead MoreTheu.s. Constitution Vs. The Constitution1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe U.S Constitution was written by James Madison and was ratified on July 21, 1788. Ever since people had trouble determining how it should be interpreted. When judges interpret the constitution, they are interpreting new facts to an established law that has been given meaning and has a historical background. Many people argue that it should be read how it was written who are known as Originalists. Then there are people who b elieve that the Constitution evolves as society does and they are knownRead MoreAn Introduction to the Constitutional Principles of American Government1406 Words   |  6 Pagesknowledge that without general rules any game will turn to chaos and disorder when everyone will behave as wishes to achieve a victory in what way soever. The most powerful â€Å"rules of the game† is the Constitution and the most important thing is to construe it correctly. More than 200 years the US Constitution remains the organic law of successfully developing state, which territory and population have increased many times over, and the political and economic life has changed radically. In the contextRead MoreRatification of Constitution Essay869 Words   |  4 PagesThe Constitution has been operative since 1789 after the ratification of nine states (American Vision and Values, Page 52). Today many question the relevancy of a document 222 years old to our society. The Founders created a governm ental framework, defining three branches and giving powers to the government and others to the states. It also guarantees the rights of the people. It took two and one-half years for the 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution. This ratification period was one of greatRead MoreFederal Constitution Essay1186 Words   |  5 Pagesfeeble central government, and a rigid interpretation of the constitution. Opposing the Jeffersonian Republicans were the Federalists of America. The federalists craved for a mighty central government with less powerful state governments, and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. The two parties had divergent standpoints ranging from religion to admission of states into the American union. With respect to the federal Constitution, the Federalists acquired a consistently flexible interpretationRead MoreThe Constitution Of The United States Essay1455 Words   |  6 PagesThe constitution serves six purposes, by which the people will attempt to: create a union, establish and maintain justice, maintain tranquility between our neighbors, provide for a common defense, promote the general welfare of the people and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (Vile. 2015). The written constitution clearly limits the power of the government. Prohibiting the government from becoming dictators. The constitution of the United States clearly outlines how