POLS 201 The Constitution

The Constitution of the United States has always been known as the lifeblood of our government and the rights of the people. This historical document was not always in place however. Before this “living document” and basis for United States rights and laws was formed there was the Articles of Confederation. Signed in 1777 by the original 13 colonies as a means of establishing the United States of American and served as our new founded countries first constitution. This document however, “did not provide the centralizing force necessary for unity among the new states and were soon found to be so fundamentally weak that a different political structure was vital.” (Breckenridge pg.19) Congress authorized a Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles in February of 1787. In the months that followed the delegates assembled and addressed the concerns within our fledgling nation. This was the beginning of our Constitution of the United States.
The original plan was to address the conflicts about money, trade, and regional dominance. The delegates ultimately made a decision to not only revise the Articles of Confederation but to create a new government and constitution. The need for a government able to prevent foreign invasion, prevent decision amongst states and national development was essential.
One of the most well-known parts of the Constitution is the organizational plan for government. Separation of power within three separate entities guaranteed to limit government power. Executive, legislative, and judicial power was divided into three separate non-overlapping branches. These separate branches though were not independent and designed to insure cooperation and sharing of functions between them. Issues such as executive vetoes and the power of Congress to override said vetoes were detrimental to creating this intertwined yet separate power governmental plan. As well the direction of foreign affairs and the power to declare war are both