Yet that chaos in not the same as now, therefore the constitution must be interpreted loosely in a way that it fits society nowadays. Loose construction is based on the idea that the Founding Fathers could not have foreseen what the world would be like in the 21st Century, and that the Constitution must be interpreted in light of historic and societal change. Loose construction allows the government to expand powers that are not specifically outlined in the Constitution as long as these powers are not specifically prohibited. Society changed from day to day and the country has to be ready for when changes are made. If powers are not outlined in the constitution, then it is up to the government (courts, judges, etc.)
However, Parliament is sovereign and civil rights and liberties have been put suspended but only in the interests of law and order or national security. Unlike many other democracies, the government retains control over rights and freedoms of citizens. Democracy can lead to the abuse of power and there are fears that if those who govern are left to their own devices, they may claim substantial amounts of power and begin to abuse their position. By making governments accountable to the people, this can be prevented. Governments must submit themselves regularly to re-election and by guaranteeing that they are controlled by elected representatives, the people can feel safe from the corruption of power.
Article III of the US Constitution establishes the judiciary branch - the Supreme Court. Although the US Constitution includes democratic principles such as checks and balances and the separation of powers to ensure the equal balance of power amongst the government branches, the legislative branch was designed to be most powerful. The organization and qualifications of Congress also contribute to the democratic shortcomings of the US Constitution. One of the biggest of these government decisions is electing the president, for which the system of the electoral college is in place. The US Constitution did not abolish slavery, and an interesting guarantee regarding slavery was included in Article IV of the Constitution.
One could be its ability to prevent abuse of power. The amendment process in American was made deliberately complicated by the founding fathers to prevent rash changes being made. A two thirds majority is needed in both houses and a further ratification from three quarters of states. This may appear to make it outdated as it would not adapt as society evolved it still maintains the ability to be interpreted in order to be moulded to fit certain situations and viewpoints. It is claimed that the founding fathers worded certain parts of the constitution vaguely and in general terms in order to prepare for future changes without needing to make an amendment.
Major Problems Chapter 2 Documents 1. Alexander Hamilton Address the Convention a. What is Federal i. Grouping of independent states b. A national government must be set up so as to address the problems of the nation i. So that the states don’t indifferent themselves from each other ii.
Some supporters say that a state should have more power than the federal government and then there are others who say the Federal government should be the ruling body alone. You have a central government that functions to keep the country working as a unit, but also works to keep the states from encroaching on individuals and becoming too intrusive. The same works for states. The states have a lot of control over what their citizens should be subject to. For example, criminal laws, property laws, contract laws...etc are decided by the state, not the federal government and they aren’t allowed to govern those areas.
What the Constitution Means to Me The Constitution lay outs the foundation for our government. It serves several purposes like outlining the basic structure of the government and their functions and responsibilities, setting the qualifications for office and the terms of office, defining the relationship between the national government and the local government, and setting the laws for the common good while protecting individual rights. Basically, it lists all things that define how our country works. The study of the Constitution gave me a better understanding and changed my perception of the government and my role as a citizen in general. It is through the inspection of the balancing forces between government and citizenship that I have come to appreciate both the brilliance and the gravity of the Constitution.
The federal system gives states the power to pass its own laws including laws that may restrict voting to only a particular group. This becomes problematic when attempts are made to prevent certain people from contributing to the voting turnouts and twisting the votes to benefit a particular party’s self interest. Voting should be regulated by the federal state because it will prevent states from restricting and discriminating certain groups of people within its state from voting which is unconstitutional, racially biased, and will lower the voting turnout. Federalism is what gives states their power but often times states use this power to their advantage to create outcomes that may increase their power. An example would be the Arizona Voting Law which demands proof of one’s citizenship and other documents that many people of color may not have or have difficulty obtaining.
Laws are placed to govern the rights to make sure the people as a whole stay protected. The government uses gun control as a way of protecting its citizens. There are many safety concerns on why firearms should be restricted; these arguments are overshadowed by the need for self defense. In 2008 and 2010 the Supreme Court issued two Second Amendments decisions. One: to own firearm without being connected to the militia.
The Constitution created a strong national government. It also divided the U.S. government into three parts, or branches, each with its own powers and responsibilities. To keep any one branch from becoming too powerful, the Constitution included a system of checks and balances. Under this system, each branch limited the power of the others. There are three branches of the federal government, the executive, the judicial, and the legislative.