What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Us Constitution
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America".
Preamble United States Constitution
During the years following the Revolutionary War, it became apparent that the governing document of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, was not working. From May 14 to September 17, 1787, a group of the nation's political leaders gathered together in Philadelphia to try to resolve all of the issues with the Articles of Confederation. James Madison was the main driving force and rounded up support to convene a Constitutional Convention with the goal to fix the Articles of Confederation. It was Madison's …show more content…
relentlessness to convene the convention, gather key players, and his diplomatic skills that made the convention happen. Madison even arranged for the convention to be in Philadelphia, home of the aging Benjamin Franklin (mountvernon). George Washington, a Virginia delegate, was unanimously elected as the convention president, and provided a sense of focus and direction. While he originally did not want involvement with the creation of the Constitution, Washington certainly had a vision for a stronger union. By being present, he could oversee the debate and help make that vision a reality (mountvernon). The convention became known as the hundred-day debate, and was one of the most momentous occurrences in United States History. The events that would unfold in the Pennsylvania State House during that time would set the United States on the course towards becoming a true Constitutional Democratic Republic (constitutionfacts).
The states appointed a total of seventy delegates to attend the convention, but only fifty-five actually made it, Rhode Island was the only state to not send any delegates at all. These fifty-five men, referred to as "the Framers”, came up with was a form of government unlike any other at that time. They created a republic form of government with three branches: The Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. Once the convention approved the constitution, each state had to convene its own constitutional convention, separate from the state legislature to ratify the document. The states had to either approve or reject the entire document as a whole. It required seventy-five percent of the states to approve in order for ratification. Large nationwide debates ensued that lasted years, but the final state. The final state, Rhode Island, ratified in May of 1790. In order to spread the word and help with understanding the Constitution, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison wrote a series of essays, published in the New York Press Called "The Federalist Papers". These essays explained in great detail the good and bad points of the Constitution.
The Framers decided on some revolutionary and genius aspects, crucial to this day, such as:
Enumerated powers, specific power MUST be granted by the Constitution.
A two-house legislature. Known as the "Great Compromise", to appease both the largely and sparsely populated states. One house, The Senate, has two representatives from each state, favoring the smaller populated states. The other, The House of Representatives, has representatives based on the state's population, favoring the largely populated states. Together, both houses form the Congress.
Checks and balances. The president can reject a bill, called a veto, for whatever reason he sees fit. The Congress can override the president's veto and pass a bill into law. And the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.
Electoral College. Each state, by use of electors will vote for the president in the general election. Each state's legislature will determine how that state will provide electors. This system prevents large population areas from controlling the presidential
election.
The constitution is divided into large sections, called "Articles". Each article addresses a branch or operation of government. Article I, establishes the legislature, gives it its power and limits. The Framers, in order to create a true functioning republic, intentionally made the legislative branch the strongest of the three branches. Each house has its own specific responsibilities and means of establishing rules of business (Morone).
Article II establishes the executive branch, and provides the specific powers and restrictions of the president. Such as: Commander in Chief of the armed forces; Senior United States Diplomat; Power to Pardon; Veto; make appointments such as ambassador, federal judges; and report on the state of the union (Morone).
Article III establishes the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the only court created by the Constitution, whereas congress creates all other federal courts. Having both original and appellate jurisdiction, The Supreme Court rarely hears original jurisdiction cases. The Supreme Court will hear and decide cases on the constitutional law and treaties (Morone).
Articles IV establishes the responsibilities and limitations of the states, such as the manner in which the states interact with each other and their form of government; and the requirements and restriction to become a state. Article V establishes the procedures to amend the constitution. Article VI establishes the Constitution as supreme law of the land. It also obligates all public officials to up hold the Constitution. VII establishes the process for ratification (constitutionus).
Over the course of the past two hundred and forty-one years, the Constitution remained a steadfast governing document that is a model for many other nations. Though the Constitution is not perfect, it allows provisions to make corrections to itself, called amendments. To date, twenty-seven amendments have been ratified, making a very powerful, and flexible governing document.
Preamble United States Constitution
During the years following the Revolutionary War, it became apparent that the governing document of the United States, the Articles of Confederation, was not working. From May 14 to September 17, 1787, a group of the nation's political leaders gathered together in Philadelphia to try to resolve all of the issues with the Articles of Confederation. James Madison was the main driving force and rounded up support to convene a Constitutional Convention with the goal to fix the Articles of Confederation. It was Madison's …show more content…
relentlessness to convene the convention, gather key players, and his diplomatic skills that made the convention happen. Madison even arranged for the convention to be in Philadelphia, home of the aging Benjamin Franklin (mountvernon). George Washington, a Virginia delegate, was unanimously elected as the convention president, and provided a sense of focus and direction. While he originally did not want involvement with the creation of the Constitution, Washington certainly had a vision for a stronger union. By being present, he could oversee the debate and help make that vision a reality (mountvernon). The convention became known as the hundred-day debate, and was one of the most momentous occurrences in United States History. The events that would unfold in the Pennsylvania State House during that time would set the United States on the course towards becoming a true Constitutional Democratic Republic (constitutionfacts).
The states appointed a total of seventy delegates to attend the convention, but only fifty-five actually made it, Rhode Island was the only state to not send any delegates at all. These fifty-five men, referred to as "the Framers”, came up with was a form of government unlike any other at that time. They created a republic form of government with three branches: The Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. Once the convention approved the constitution, each state had to convene its own constitutional convention, separate from the state legislature to ratify the document. The states had to either approve or reject the entire document as a whole. It required seventy-five percent of the states to approve in order for ratification. Large nationwide debates ensued that lasted years, but the final state. The final state, Rhode Island, ratified in May of 1790. In order to spread the word and help with understanding the Constitution, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison wrote a series of essays, published in the New York Press Called "The Federalist Papers". These essays explained in great detail the good and bad points of the Constitution.
The Framers decided on some revolutionary and genius aspects, crucial to this day, such as:
Enumerated powers, specific power MUST be granted by the Constitution.
A two-house legislature. Known as the "Great Compromise", to appease both the largely and sparsely populated states. One house, The Senate, has two representatives from each state, favoring the smaller populated states. The other, The House of Representatives, has representatives based on the state's population, favoring the largely populated states. Together, both houses form the Congress.
Checks and balances. The president can reject a bill, called a veto, for whatever reason he sees fit. The Congress can override the president's veto and pass a bill into law. And the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.
Electoral College. Each state, by use of electors will vote for the president in the general election. Each state's legislature will determine how that state will provide electors. This system prevents large population areas from controlling the presidential
election.
The constitution is divided into large sections, called "Articles". Each article addresses a branch or operation of government. Article I, establishes the legislature, gives it its power and limits. The Framers, in order to create a true functioning republic, intentionally made the legislative branch the strongest of the three branches. Each house has its own specific responsibilities and means of establishing rules of business (Morone).
Article II establishes the executive branch, and provides the specific powers and restrictions of the president. Such as: Commander in Chief of the armed forces; Senior United States Diplomat; Power to Pardon; Veto; make appointments such as ambassador, federal judges; and report on the state of the union (Morone).
Article III establishes the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the only court created by the Constitution, whereas congress creates all other federal courts. Having both original and appellate jurisdiction, The Supreme Court rarely hears original jurisdiction cases. The Supreme Court will hear and decide cases on the constitutional law and treaties (Morone).
Articles IV establishes the responsibilities and limitations of the states, such as the manner in which the states interact with each other and their form of government; and the requirements and restriction to become a state. Article V establishes the procedures to amend the constitution. Article VI establishes the Constitution as supreme law of the land. It also obligates all public officials to up hold the Constitution. VII establishes the process for ratification (constitutionus).
Over the course of the past two hundred and forty-one years, the Constitution remained a steadfast governing document that is a model for many other nations. Though the Constitution is not perfect, it allows provisions to make corrections to itself, called amendments. To date, twenty-seven amendments have been ratified, making a very powerful, and flexible governing document.