Constitution Quiz Overtime After taking the “Constitution Quiz,” I was very disappointed. Not only did I earn a 6/10 on the quiz, but I noticed a relatively low score of 7/10 for the state of California. Considering my performance in school and love for American history, I was embarrassed. I truly believe that this is a legitimate reflection on society’s horrible job of teaching the youth about the government in which they are under. Up until this point in the educational system, we students have not been exposed to the study of our own government or that of any other governmental system. Our knowledge dwindles past the obvious three branches of the U.S. government. Compared to other countries, we are far behind. I traveled to Japan this summer
“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
On June 21, 1788 the constitution was ratified. Our first constitution, also known as the Articles of Confederation, was adopted towards the end of the Revolutionary War. Adopting the constitution helped us create a system of government where most of the powers were store in the states rather in the central government. The constitution pushed for a loose confederation of independent states with little power in the central government. Although the articles behold good intentions, it held no sustainability. War and peace could be made but tax could not. Trade could not be regulated. Laws passed by Congress did not ensure total enforcement. If states conflicted with one another there would be no national court system to dispute it. For a national
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention chose to write an entirely new constitution rather than fix the Articles because they needed a stronger central government and the current one was created with weak intentions. The Articles of Confederation was originally created to have a weak central government because the United States did not want to be like Britain. After fighting a harsh war with them, Americans did not want an overpowering government like their past ruler. Additionally, the government the Articles made was only unicameral legislature, so there was no separation of powers. No judicial nor an executive branch was there for checks and balances and to balance power. In addition, congress could not levy taxes and maintain a national
On December 5, 1936, the Soviet Union adopted a new constitution to reform the government. It replaced the 1924 constitution that was ratified shortly after the death of Vladimir Lenin. The 1936 constitution lasted until 1977, when a new constitution was adopted. According to a former kulak named Andrei Arzhilovsky, people celebrated on the streets when the constitution was ratified, and everyone called it the “Stalin Constitution”. Rightfully so, it deserved the name because Josef Stalin was heavily involved in the creation of the new constitution. Indeed there were good reasons for Soviet citizens to celebrate the adoption of the new constitution, because it granted rights that were previously denied to the people. Among the rights that were provided were: (1) universal rights for all Soviet citizens including kulaks (2) freedom of religion (3) preservation of the rights of all ethnic groups. In this paper, I will argue that the 1936 Soviet Constitution did not achieve its goal of providing universal rights to all Soviet citizens,
The American Constitution was questionable from the earliest starting point, as thoughts were separated between backers - an answer for all the country's issues, and commentators - a depravity of its republican standards. The supporters trusted that the Constitution augmented their republican thoughts, adding another level to the chose government, while the faultfinders trust the republicans worked in little political units, for this situation the states. The most effective method to separate the force between state governments and focal government was in this way a principle contention while the Constitution was composed furthermore later in time, remaining a vital issue until today.
The people of North Carolina before and after the Revolutionary War seem to have one opinion. The people thought since they were an independent state, that they should have their own government system. The people did not want a government after so many failures. The Article of Confederation had their delegates to draw up better ways for the Constitution to make the people happy. This only ended up with people taking sides with the government. The Federalist was supporters of the Constitution, while the Anti-federalist was against them.
The United States Constitution was influenced by Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome in multiple ways. These ways included republicanism, Ancient Greece’s direct democracy, and Ancient Rome’s branches of government. Republicanism was the principle that states the fact that the people were allowed to vote. In Ancient Rome, the Senators were elected by the patricians who were aristocrats. Aristocrats were wealthy landowners, and they were citizens of Ancient Rome. So technically, the Senators were chosen by the citizens. Ancient Rome had a republican government, so they elected leaders that made important decisions for them. A republican government is also known as an indirect democracy, which is the form of government that the United States
When James Madison and the other 56 delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in May 1787, they intended to amend the Articles of Confederation. They ended up creating a new constitution, and Madison, representing Virginia, became the chief recorder of information. Like all successful political endeavors, the new federal Constitution—written just four years after the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution—has many "fathers" and many origins. None is more important than the economic and political unrest following the war and a band of ultra-nationalists led by Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and George Washington (“The James Madison Papers”). Although the Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation,
When the words “We the people” were written so eloquently on a piece of parchment in 1787, did it mean we the people of this convention or we the people of the United States? A group of men so revelled in school teaching and writings as the Founding Fathers of our country fighting for the equality of millions and the democratic processes to insure that this equality is protected were elitist. A statement that goes against all the schooling down by American history teachers for hundreds of years so relevant but we forget, was the Constitution created to be an elitist document? Did they create a new government for profit or for betterment? The Constitution was written from an elitist point of view but, by creating a government that guaranteed them with numerous rights and liberties, they protected all of those who were to also be governed.
The Constitution (LEQ) The Constitution is a document that basically frames out the entire government of the United States of America. It was created because the Articles of Confederation wasn’t powerful enough, and the forefathers believed that the country wouldn’t survive as long as the government was being ran how it was. In some ways the Constitution is a continuation of the Articles such as Enlightenment ideals. However, the Constitution was also a major departure from the Articles in regards to federalism, and diplomacy.
The Constitution wasn’t fair and was poorly made so they had to create a new one. The Congress started off by adding improvements but it needed too many improvements they had to start over. If they hadn't started over the Constitution Would not have been as good, and there would still be poorly written parts. The new constitution was called the Constitutional Convention. People complained that their Liberty was being taken away and they wanted it back the Congress thought about the complaints and decide to consider revising the Constitution. The revising turned into the Constitutional Convention.
The plan to divide the government into three branches was proposed by James Madison, at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He modeled the division from who he referred to as ‘the Perfect Governor,’ as he read Isaiah 33:22; “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
Professor Larry Sabato is the founder of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia presents 23 proposals to revitalize our Constitution and Make America a Fairer Country. His book provides insight for a hard fought debate. Whether you like his suggestions or not or you agree with him or not, you have to respect anyone that can outwardly state that the United States Constitution as it has been handed down is “outdated.” This quest for reform I’m sure would anger many political conservatives who believe that the Constitution that we know today, is not in need of any reform, and is just the true document that is has always been and should remain.
The US Constitution states “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 Citizens have equal rights. Belonging to a minority group because of culture, religion or race does not assert that one is unconstitutional. In times of war, evacuation of minority groups only in NOT constitutional; however, evacuation of ALL United
This week I attend an university-wide event talking about the Constitution and the history and struggles that came before it. The person who was speaking was Dr. Ben Scharff, an assistant professor of history at Mercyhurst University. One of the first things he mention is the lack of interest for the Constitution instead for the Declaration of Independence. He continues his discussion by talking about the struggles of the American colonies ranging from the division among individuals, the unprofessional Continental army, and the lack of monetary credit. Some people might mitigate the Constitution existence, but the discussion that I participated help me reflected and renewed my interest of it daily to point of making a better world.