Essay on US Constitution - 992 Words

â€Å"While the authors of the United States Constitution are frequently portrayed as noble and idealistic statesmen who drafted a document based upon their conception of good government, reality is that the constitution reflects the politics of the drafting and ratification process. Unfortunately, the result is a document that is designed to produce an ineffective government, rather than a government that can respond to issues in a timely fashion.† In support of this conclusion, the issues of slavery, The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and the civil rights struggle keenly demonstrate the ways in which our constitution hinders the expediency and effectiveness of America’s government. The constitution’s provisions towards voting eligibility and†¦show more content†¦The constitution details, â€Å"The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state†¦and each senator shall have one vote.† This equal representation a long with careful maintenance of regional balance in the Senate allowed for Southern states to retain their national veto over slavery. Lastly, the constitution’s allowance for the establishment of the Supreme Court that could, with a single decision, overturn years worth of legislation provided a monumental setback. In the court case Dred Scott v. Sandford, the court ruled that the federal government did not retain the power to prevent slavery in the territories. Although slavery was eventually abolished by the fourteenth amendment, the long struggle and numerous constitutional roadblocks demonstrate how a number of provisions within the constitution hindered the ability of the national government to efficiently overcome a national concern. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The 1906 Earthquake in San Francisco also exemplifies the way in which the constitution impedes government action. After hearing a short report regarding the earthquake, President Roosevelt sent a telegram to the California governor, expressing his sympathy and offering national assistance. The governor replied that state troops were handling the disaster and that if federal aid was needed, it would be promptly requested. What followed this disaster were continuing coordinationShow MoreRelatedThe Us Constitution1758 Words   |  8 Pagesavailable, etc.). Be sure to integrate what you find with what you are learning in your text and other readings and supplement it with additional research. ALSO, as September 17th is Constitution Day, I want you to reflect on this and comment on it in your forums for this week. The preamble of the US Constitution directs the Federal Government to promote the general welfare....secure the blessings of liberty. ..and protect ourselves and our posterity. When thinking about our obligation toRead More The US Constitution Essay1425 Words   |  6 PagesThe US Constitution states â€Å"We The People of the United states in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for more 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.† The main purpose of the U.S Constitution is to establish the basic rights of all American Citizens. This follows that every United States CitizensRead MoreThe Creation Of The Us Constitution1589 Words   |  7 PagesThe creation of the US constitution was prompted my many different things going on. What established America’s national government and fundamental laws is the U.S constitution. It also guarantees basic rights for its citizens. The U.S constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pa. The first document before the U.S constitution was the Articles of Confederation, with that the government wasn’t very strong and the states didn’t act like they do today. In 1787, at the 1787 conventionRead MoreThe US Constitution Essays1703 Words   |  7 Pages33:22; â€Å"For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us.† http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm The founding fathers of the American Constitution divided the government up into the following three branches to prevent the majority from ruling with an iron fist; legislative, judicial, and executive. The three braches were created by the Constitution: Article 1, Legislative branch made up of the House and the Senate, collectively known as Congress;Read MoreEssay on US Constitution870 Words   |  4 Pages Transformed beyond recognition from the vision of the Founding Fathers’. Discuss this view of the modern US constitution. On March 4th 1789 the constitution of the United States of America came into effect. Derived from the visions of seven political leaders and statesmen and consisting of only seven articles, the US constitution would become the first of its kind, the bedrock of democracy and lay the foundations for democratic political systems across the world. Since 1789, America has progressedRead MoreThe Declaration Of Independence And The Us Constitution1746 Words   |  7 Pagesthe US Constitution. The Declaration of Independence marked the birth of our republic and set forth our â€Å"unalienable rights† to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Later, the Constitution outlined our style of government and defined the rights that are protected from intrusion by government. These documents have been a beacon to all men and women who value freedom. They are just as meaningful now as when they were written. As the American statesman Henry Clay said, â€Å"The Constitution of theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article The Us Constitution 1347 Words   |  6 PagesFBI background check system, (Ellen Nakashima; Washington Post) and commit this act of racial violence. â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.† The US Constitution, written in 1787, asserts that it is essential for a Free State citizen to bear arms. However, recent acts such as mass shootings, intercity violence and accidental gun shootings, have enlightened the controversy of the issue. The United StatesRead MoreThe Articles Of Confederation And The Us Constitution979 Words   |  4 PagesThe United States has governed with two constitutions, the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution. The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt of forming a legal government from March 1, 1781 to March 4, 1789. There were many problems as the articles became to take effect so it was replaced with the US Constitution in June 21, 1788. The Articles of Confederation failed because of its weaknesses which were that â€Å"each state regardless of its size, had one vote in congress.†(JandaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Nevada And Us Constitutions1883 Words   |  8 PagesAn Analysis of the Nevada and US Constitutions and Government Structures Denisse Bustillos, 5432 PSC 101 Introduction to American Government and Politics Fall 2014 Section number: 101-1003 88311 Professor: William Eric Davis Ph.D. Author Note This assignment represents my own work. It is not a recycled assignment from another course and it has not been purchased, borrowed, or obtained from another source. Nor has any part of it been plagiarized. I did not include sections written by or summarizedRead MoreThe Process Of Amending The Us Constitution1759 Words   |  8 Pages1. The process of amending the US Constitution is an intentionally difficult one. Yet those in each branch of government have found ways in which the Constitution can be changed informally. Describe the methods, both formal and informal, of constitutional change. Article V of the Constitution was formed through a compromise that stated that congress or a convention of states has amendment power. This is known as the formal process, in which two steps are utilized: proposal and ratification. Any