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Why is the United States Constitution the world's longest surviving written charter of government in the world? Could it be because of the three branches of government, mapped out in Articles, I, II and III, providing the checks and balances to ensure power is shared? Or is it the states' rights described in Article IV assuring each state respects the other states? Has the Constitution survived because of the famous Preamble, "We the People" that affirms the government of the United States exists to serve the citizens? Or could it be Article V which explains how to make amendments to the Constitution allowing changes to be made when need be? Perhaps the founders realized that later generations would evolve, and this grand American experiment may need to revise, change or make additions to the United States Constitution to "form a more perfect Union."
A Second Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787 to make changes to the Articles of Confederation since it was not working. James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, wrote the first draft which included the three branches, legislative, executive and judicial along with checks and balances. After a contentious Constitutional Convention, the delegates signed the new U S Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and sent it to the thirteen states for ratification.
The states ratified the Constitution in 1788, but there was much concern with the government abusing its powers and the need to establish the rights of individual citizens. So, in 1789 discussion was led by James Madison on the rights of American citizens. Madison came up with nineteen Amendments he called the "great rights of mankind." After votes in the House of Representatives and in the Senate twelve were approved. Finally, the twelve Amendments were sent to the states and ten were approved and became known as the Bill of Rights.
1) The First Amendment: Protects the freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
2) The Second Amendment: Protects the right to bear arms.
3) The Third Amendment: Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes.
4) The Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
5) The Fifth Amendment: Protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy.
6) The Sixth Amendment: Provides for the right to a fair and speedy trial by an impartial jury.
7) The Seventh Amendment: Protects the right to a trial by jury in civil cases.
8) The Eighth Amendment: Prohibits excessive bail and fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
9) The Ninth Amendment: States that the enumeration of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.
10) The Tenth Amendment: Limits the powers of the federal government to those specifically granted by the Constitution and reserves all other powers to the states or to the people.
The Bill of Rights protects and guarantees individuals' basic principles in relation to the power of the government. We will take a closer look at some of those rights in future columns.
"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and Congressmen and Government officials but the voters of this country." Franklin D. Roosevelt
Betsy Cook, member of Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens, a local citizen group.
Our mission is to inform and educate the Mid-Ohio Valley about how government works on the local, state, and federal levels and how citizens can be involved to make our democracy function.
Join us the third Monday of each month at 3:30 in the Armory.
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