Securing the Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and Our Posterity The Framers of the Constitution overall succeeded in protecting and giving the rights of liberty, freedom, and those of all people to the citizens of the United States. This was ultimately made possible as they made sure one can change its government if necessary, now and in the future. In article one section 8, congress is given the power to create any law necessary for the country going forward, protecting the rights of the people. This is known as the elastic clause and protects the rights of individuals as the government can change with them. This protects not only people in current times but also those in the future. The elastic clause protects the people’s rights to liberty as times in the country will change, giving flexibility to make …show more content…
Overall this section of the constitution assures people rights will always be met as the government will bend and stretch around them. Amendment one section 8 was added into the constitution because of the philosopher John Locke’s 1688 ideas about one’s personal rights in terms of the relationship between government and people. He stated that society must be held to a “social contract” that stated the role of the ruler and the people. Furthermore, he stated “no body can have the power to make laws without their own consent”. These ideas of his translated directly over to natural inalienable rights of all people stating that a government must respect it people and their rights given from God. This idea shown from John Locke and the awareness of natural rights directly translates to the elastic clause. The elastic clause makes sure the government has the ability to abide by the social contract and natural rights of of men by creating that
The framers attempted to perfect the constitution by protecting the minority while giving majority some power. The Constitution was drafted by framers that took a lot of time and effort to make a document that has held this nation together for centuries. The
Created on November 15, 1777 and ratified by the first 13 colonies on March 1, 1781, the articles of confederation is known for being the first constitution of the united states. “The constitution provides a division of powers, meaning it assigns certain powers to the national government and reserves others for the states.” (crouse, slide 4) The constitution is needed because if we didn't have it the government would be weak and would most likely have no power. Framers of the constitution chose a system of government on a territorial basis, between a central government and several states. “ the framers were worried about the government being too powerful because; government power inevitably poses a threat to individual liberty. Therefore the
The United States Constitution was created in fear of protecting the people that it governed from the government itself. The Framers pursued the Constitution to prevent the government that they had left behind, the Monarchy of England. After the failed Articles of Confederation, they needed a strong, balanced federal government. Leaving tyrannical England where leaders were not held accountable, disparaging towards natural rights, and lack of consent from the people it governs. The Framers were able to cultivate a constitution dedicated towards the people. They believed that consent from the governed was the only way to create legitimate governance. The Framers laid out a Constitution that would provide for a strong, national government
The framers of the constitution did many things that limited the power of the president by creating impeachment, checks and balances, executive privilege, and allowing the legislature to declare war. However they gave the president too much power because they allow the president to court packing, they allow him to announce important events to the public, and allowing presidents to issue many executive orders. A president must be at least thirty five years old, a natural born citizen, and live in the United states (U.S.) for at least 14 years. The president is allowed to serve four year terms when he or she is elected.
The framers of the Constitution did many things to limit the power of the president such as creating a system of checks and balances, establishing a process of impeachment, and requiring congressional approval for many presidential decisions; however some believe the president was given too much power by the framers by allowing executive orders and court packing. Through trying to limit the power of the president, the framers also set requirements to become president. These include being least 35 years old, living in the U.S. for consecutive 14 years, and natural born citizen of the United States of America. The framers of the Constitution did enough to limit the power of the President. This was done by creating a process for impeachment,
Thomas Jefferson was commenting that the Bill of Rights from governmental. Both the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution had more purpose; The Bill of Rights was meant to give citizens of the U.S. promising freedom to rely on. The Constitution set terms for the U.S. to abide by. The Constitution was established for the people and was a social contract; it was an agreement between the government and society to protect the nation’s deserved rights and liberties. The Bill of Rights was included in the Constitution; it is the first ten amendments which were included to guarantee personal rights. One interesting amendment that has tested numerous times through the Supreme Court is the Eighth Amendment: no cruel or unusual punishment, it definitely changed America’s on what punishment is considered cruel and unusual.
The Framers of the Constitution in 1787 believed the people weren’t intelligent enough to choose their own leader. They were concerned how informed their voters would be and decided that the president should be elected indirectly. Thus, the Electoral College was produced. The Electoral College, fundamentally, prohibits civilians from voting directly for the president. How does this work? First, the country holds the popular vote. Every adequate voter in every state gets one vote for the president. Then, it is passed to the electoral vote. Now, each state obtains at least three votes depending on the population of that state. In order to be declared president, the candidate must receive a majority of the votes. If no one acquires a majority of the votes, then the House of Representatives elects the president from the top three contenders. In which case, each state gets one vote. Therefore, is it time to get rid of the Electoral College? The answer is no; the process may not be equal, but it protects the country’s ideologies. The Electoral College should be kept because it keeps extremists in check, protects the federalist system, and settles the presidency.
Whether or not to add in a Bill of Rights was a huge debate among the framers of our Constitution. While the framers ended up ratifying the Constitution without a Bill of Rights, shortly after a Bill of Rights was added in the first ten amendments to the Constitution. This Bill of Rights is what grants us our basic freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, the press, and the right to bear arms.
In John Adam’s Liberty and Knowledge, Adams concludes that liberty provides satisfaction, encourages determination and affords well-being for the people of the United States. He writes “Let us recollect it was liberty, the hope of liberty for themselves and us and ours, which conquered all the discouragements, dangers and trials (27) ” which supports his belief that liberty saved the people from any dissatisfaction and discontent with the changes arising from a new Constitution and changes in the states’ rights. In early America, liberty was viewed as the right to freedom and power. The Constitution addresses John Adam’s notion of liberty in Article 4, Section 1, Clause 1, as it introduces the idea of full faith and credit for each citizen of a state to be able to have the liberty to travel to other states and not be in danger of their rights being violated.
Back when the United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, did not contain the essential freedoms that are now outlined in the Bill of Rights. After the Bill of Rights were adopted, the first freedoms that were guaranteed became known as the First Amendment which was written by James Madison, who was nicknamed “the father of the constitution”. The First Amendment is important today because without these rights, America would not be the “Land of the Free”. The five rights that are recorded in this amendment protects the basic liberties as well as prohibits the government from what we believe in along with how we should
The Constitution is one of the most important document of the United States of America along with the Declaration of Independence. In the Constitution, the founding fathers and the government also included a set of "rights" entitled, The Bill of Rights. In The Bill of Rights, citizens of the U.S. are given rights, amendments, that make the U.S a "free" country today. This system has provided many citizens with rights such as, allowing them to express their religion and free speech and protect their privacy with no officials is allowed to search someone 's belongings unless there is a warrant that states reason. There are many more amendments besides the two listed and each of them are of equal importance to balance the power between the
Certain interests do not change over time in our society. Over 200 years ago, the prominent concern that led to the framing of the Constitution regarded the establishment of a government that was “for the people and by the people.” The framers of the Constitution, with concern of an over powering central government in mind, provided a basis for the structure of the federal government of the United States. The powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government are laid out strategically in a way that no one branch can have more power than the other. The national concern of maintaining a legitimate government has not shifted since the initial days of the framers. Although the capacity of the government has grown over time, the system of checks and balances that was adapted in the framing of the Constitution allows for the structure and powers of the federal government to remain in order today. Other than providing a structural map for how the government will operate, however, the additional aspects of the Constitution fail to administer practical framework for addressing 21st century interests. This document was written over 200 years ago and it has not been altered substantially since then (Lazare). While certain Amendments have been added to assist the Constitution in staying relevant, such as the abolishment of slavery and the addition of women’s right to vote, there has been practically nothing added to help in applying the framers’ intentions
They had been in love with the thought of liberty and believed foreseen rights for man would be good for man’s nature. Knowingly experiencing tyranny from the grand countries, the Fathers constructed the Constitution very carefully in order to avoid tyranny and a government for the people, by the people, and of the people would be developed. The First Amendment was created to ensure that the government would not and could not interfere with American citizens basic civil rights. Being that this Amendment was so important, many states refused to approve such documents as the Constitution until there were amendments that would protect people’s rights in the future. The Founding Fathers made the constitution to where eventually even in today’s days it would protect the rights of American citizens. There is always leeway with in the amendments to where not only does it protect the people of the past, but it protects the
George Washington said, “I do not expect the Constitution to last for more than 20 years” (Gilder Lehrman). Today, we have oldest written constitution in the world. It has been able to endure because it is flexible and it stresses liberty and equality to the American people. The book states, “It has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of government because it has changed over time” (Overview). Thomas Jefferson, based on his notion that "the world belongs to the living" was technically right. We are the living and our Constitution is basically the same as it was when he made that statement.
The next section suggests the basic human rights that the founding fathers believed every government should allow their subjects. "…We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…."(Jefferson 428) Giving the citizens these basic rights would allow everyone the chance to achieve above their born status, and to strive for whatever might give them happiness.