Conscience Vs Constitution Research Paper

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Conscience Verses Constitution Janna Kemper SOC 120 Barbara Carter June 13, 2009 Conscience Verses Constitution We are all predisposed to make moral decisions based on our conscience. Natural endowment and social conditioning shape our conscience (Ruggiero, 2008 pg. 41). Natural endowment is a person’s temperament level and kind of intelligence (Ruggiero, 2008 pg. 41). Social conditioning is the effects of our environment, people, places and the ideas we are exposed to as we grow and develop (Ruggiero, 2008 pg. 42). For that reason, one cannot make a moral decision free of personal influence. The United States government is required to make ethical and moral decision that affect the entire population on a daily basis.…show more content…
The U.S. Constitution established each branch. The role of each branch is very different but each has its own issues that require moral decision-making. It is because of ethics and moral reasoning we have laws, and we continue to need ethics to refine and perfect our legal system (Ruggiero, 2008 pg. 8) Congress is the legislative part of our government, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives (Truman Library, 2009). The primary role of the legislative branch is to create laws. Representatives meet to discuss ideas (bills) and determine if they should become laws (Truman Library, 2009). The proper focus for lawmakers is on the nature of the actions in question, not their own personal preferences (Ruggiero, 2008 pg. 4). The President of the United States administers the Executive branch of our government (Truman Library, 2009). The president is responsible for enforcing the laws made by the Legislative branch (Truman Library, 2009). This branch is very large therefore the president has a staff containing the vice-president, department heads (cabinet members), and heads of other agencies (Truman Library,…show more content…
The Supreme Court justices are special judges that interpret laws according to the constitution (Truman Library, 2009). These justices only hear cases that pertain to issues related to the constitution (Truman Library, 2009). The Supreme Court and its justices is one of the highest roles in United States system of government (Truman Library, 2009). Therefore, its justices should possess judicial reasoning, temperament and philosophy free of personal preference and political views. The constitution gives the Supreme Court the power to check, if necessary, the actions of the President and congress. It can tell a President that his actions are not allowed by the Constitution. It can tell Congress that a law it passed violated the U.S. Constitution and is, therefore, no longer a law. It can also tell the government of a state that one of its laws breaks a rule in the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the final judge in all cases involving laws of Congress, and the highest law of all — the Constitution (Scholastic,
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