Existing comment:
The Constitution of the United States
1787 to ...
Establishing new governments "on wise and lasting principles, is the greatest work the mind of man can undertake."
-- Francis Lightfoot Lee, 1776
The Constitution of the United States gets to the point quickly. "We the People of the United States..." it begins, "... do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." In the first few words, it accepts the "great essential" that free governments rest upon the consent of the governed and that they exist to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty."
Beyond the Preamble, the Constitution provides solutions to the dilemma of power that are very different from those contained in the Articles of Confederation. Many Americans felt frustrated by the severe limits the Articles imposed. The federal government could not levy taxes, raise an army, or even enforce its laws. With change nearly impossible, with important responsibilities unaddressed, a new approach appeared to be necessary. Once again responding to the times, the Founders, via the Constitutional Convention, reshaped the tools needed to govern with the "great essentials."
Under the Constitution, the national government possesses new vigor and independence. There is a president and federal courts. Precisely because power is carefully separated among the three branches of government, and because each branch checks and balances the others, this government wields real authority. The national government still controls international affairs, but now it can levy taxes and regulate interstate commerce as well. There is even language that suggests "implied" powers not specifically listed.
In fact, the wisdom of this constitution lay not only in the allocation of actual authority, but also in its flexibility. "In framing a system which we wish to last for ages," wrote James Madison, "we should not lose sight of the changes that ages will produce." As a result, the Constitution's amendments catalogue societal change, like the abolition of slavery and voting rights for women. |