Constitution of the United States must be understood within the broader cultural, historical contexts in which it was drafted and ratified. The most basic explanation of the "original intent" of the Constitution is that the founders needed to formulate a cohesive and consistent system of governance and political culture after independence. The core issues at stake were Federalism vs. anti-Federalism, and the need to strike a balance between a federal government that was strong enough to oversee key economic, social, and political institutions and one that was kept in check by regional or state powers. The social and economic diversity within individual states, and between the states, made the framing of the Constitution an arduous process. By the time the Constitutional Convention convened, it became apparent that the Articles of the Confederation were insufficient. There was no sense of nationhood with the Articles; no means by which to effectively unite in matters related to the economy...
Shays Rebellion was crucial to the determination to form a more perfect union out of the disparate states and their diverse populations. A key social issue played itself out before, during, and after Shays Rebellion: that being the class conflicts that were brewing with intensity in some parts of the republic. Wealth and political power were concentrated into the hands of a relative few who could too easily ride roughshod over the new nation's poor: the people who Shays represented. Shays' iconic rebellion was not isolated; but it was the most highly organized. Wealth disparity had become immediately apparent after the Revolution. Shays rebellion highlighted the need for a government that was more responsive to citizens, and responsible for them in terms of maintaining just social, economic, and political institutions. The rebellion also…
Constitution for a Club Rules and laws are a vital component of any civilized society. No human community can function effectively without them. All areas of life are governed by some sort of rule. In general society, for example, there are governmental laws in the form of the constitution and the law. There are also rules in the workplace and at school, as well as in less formal environments such as
The fact that arrested criminals are routinely read Miranda rights, informing them of their rights under the Fifth Amendment provides another example of a country concerned about justice. The framers included the phrases "insure domestic tranquility," "provide for the common defense," "promote the general welfare," and "secure the blessings of liberty" to make sure that the Federal government had the power to exercise general police powers and engage in warfare. Therefore,
As a result, the Bill of Rights was implemented into the Constitution, to address the concerns of anti-federalists. While at the same time, it gave the federalists a strong central government that could adjust with: the various changes. This is significant, because it shows how the Constitution is a working document that seeks to provide a balance between: personal freedoms and the need to protect the nation. In many ways,
Constitution gave Congress the power of legislation. In fact, its major function is to make laws. Essentially, Congress converts public will into public policy by way of law. The Constitution provides some rules to which Congress must adhere throughout the legislative process however; over the years there have been additions and modifications to the procedure. Currently, there is debate over how to reform the legislative process. The general legislative process is
Male voters had to own property. Thus voting was still the province of land-holding elites rather than all the people under the rule of constitutional, national, and state law. The fact that Senators were appointed by the state legislature not only allocated more rights to the states as desired by Southerners, but also further filtered the popular voice, as expressed in the House of Representatives. The Electoral College system
Constitution Debates During the intellectual debate over the Constitution, the Anti-Federalist case against the Federalists' proposed system of checks and balances was made in a number of different ways. It is worth understanding the logic of the Anti-Federalists' arguments before we turn to the Federalist response to those arguments. A first case made against checks and balances is an obvious one: that it diminishes direct accountability to the people on the part
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