Blog du Constitution
Mood:  rushed
The US Constitution is a legal written document outlining
the basic rights afforded to the citizens of the United States.
These basic rights were thought to be fair, just, and free of repression
and tyranny when they were originally written and they are still
in effect. Lawyers study these basic rights and learn how to negotiate
with people in courtrooms when these rights are compromised , eliminated or misconstrued.
There is still moral and ethical argument and debate going on about
interpretation of these rights because they were expressed in a most
economical manner ? with few words ? and thus open to many hidden assumptions
that are not agreed upon.
The Constitution, in the framework of seven Articles, puts forth the form of our government as three branches ? legislative, executive and judicial -- and how they are to operate. There is an outline of how politicians and president are elected and judges selected. There are ten original Amendments and an additional seventeen ratified over the years to bring the total number of Amendments to twenty-seven.
Interestingly, when this ?freedom? form of government and it?s constitution were
created, Africans were slaves with no human rights and no rights to vote nor did women
have the right to vote. The abolition of slavery came about in 1865, the right of African-American men to vote came about in 1870 and the right of women to vote was deemed
lawful and right in 1920.
This Constitution has served the country well over several centuries and appears to be a good working model of a successful and enduring society.