The United States Constitution

We can’t begin to accurately understand our rights here in the US without first having a basic understanding of our Constitution.  Since I feel sure most of you would rather have your eyelashes plucked out than take time to read it, I am doing it for you.  I confess that I felt the same way when I began, but, once I started, I couldn’t turn back.  I have a clearer picture now than I did before.  You will too.

The U.S. Constitution is one of the world’s oldest surviving constitutions and has been used as a model by countries around the world. Despite its age and the changes in our culture since its creation, it is still the basis of our federal law and the document that guarantees our rights.  But why and how did it replace the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles provided a very weak government and its flaws became apparent even before it was approved by all the states. One of its weaknesses was the inability to levy taxes. If Congress needed funding for a government project of any kind, they could ask the other states for their share but the states were not compelled to provide it.

Another flaw was the number of votes required to make an amendment. If any change was deemed necessary, all thirteen states had to agree. If there was an important piece of legislation needed, 9 of the 13 had to agree. This was troublesome because often members of the delegation would be absent thereby making the required laws difficult to pass.

In 1787, the process that led to the Constitution as we know it began. Following the poor turnout of delegates for a convention in Annapolis, the attendees reported to their respective states that another convention was needed to address the problems with the existing system of government as formed under the Articles.

It took from May 25 to September 17 of that year, but they finally created a document they could support. Under the Articles of Confederation only nine states had to ratify the new Constitution for it to take effect. The first state to approve and accept this new Constitution was Delaware on December 7. By July 26, 1788, they had 11 states with New York being the last. The Constitution of the United States officially became the law of the land September 13, 1788.

Next: What Does the Constitution Say?

 

Technorati Tags: constitution,articles of Confederation,amendment,congress

IceRocket Tags: constitution,articles of Confederation,amendment,congress

 

My Bright Idea! (Oh and the Articles of Confederation)

Hardly a day goes by without me hearing of someone and their rights. They are either fighting for their rights or claiming their right to something. But how many of us really know what our rights are? I know I had a general idea- I have the right to be safe in my home, I have the right to be paid for my work, etc. – but I suffered from a lack of understanding regarding my rights and how they came to exist in this country.

Then it came to me! I should read the U.S. Constitution! What a great idea! Sheer genius! In making this decision I realized that it was quite an undertaking, but I knew that to fully grasp my rights and the rights of others it was something I had to do.

In order to properly understand our government, our rights, and our privileges I thought it best to go back in time to discover what our foundation was. But where to start! I didn’t think I needed to go back as far as the first settlers so after doing some research I realized I only needed to go back to the place where our government began to take its present shape. Thankfully I didn’t have to go very far.

After declaring independence from Britain, the citizens of this country found themselves with no central government. Each state created plans for their individual government but most people were troubled at the prospect of forming a central government. From their experience with Europe they knew a centralized government usually did not favor the people.

Despite this apprehension, they did agree that all the states shared some common interests and they needed a system to address them. In the process, no one wanted to lose the freedoms they had been fighting so desperately for. The Articles of Confederation were a baby step in that direction.

At that time there were 13 states. Each state had supreme lawmaking authority. That meant that the people who governed North Carolina could make any law they wanted without any other states interference. On closer examination you realize that the states were then not accountable to anyone. Without accountable there would certainly have been abuse of power.

In 1777 the Continental Congress, a convention made up of delegates from each state, created the Articles of Confederation. This was essentially a treaty forming a “friendship” among the states. Under these articles each state was still sovereign. The articles addressed things like a common military defense, freedom of movement among the states, how the delegates would be chosen and how many votes each state had, foreign relations and declarations of war, as well as how their required activities would be funded.

Although they began the process of approving this treaty in 1777, it wasn’t until 1781 that the last state formally accepted the agreement. Then 8 years later it was replaced by the United States Constitution.

Tomorrow: The United States Constitution