As we prepare for America 250, the celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, we begin thinking of the story of America, “the great experiment.”

Our thoughts go to the next important document, the U. S. Constitution signed in 1787.

The framers designed something that had never happened before, a unique democratic system giving power to “we the people,” making three co-equal branches of government, and setting up checks and balances to encourage cooperation and compromise.

Over the past year, The Marietta Times has run a column series on the U. S. Constitution.

The columns were written by local citizens who are members of the community group, Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens.

The mission of the group is to help our community understand how our local, state and federal government works and how important each citizen is to make our democracy work.

The columns broke down the Constitution article by article and amendment by amendment.

The framers made three branches of government with checks and balances to ensure no branch would have too much power.

The Constitution begins with Article I, which gives the Legislature the most power and oversight over the other two branches.

Article II, the Executive Branch gives the President specific powers but also mentions powers not given to the Executive branch such as control of elections. Article III states how the Judicial Branch functions.

Article IV describes states’ rights. Article V explains how to amend the Constitution. Article VI declares the Constitution the Supreme Law of the Land and requires all officials to pledge an oath to the Constitution. Article VII, described the ratification process by the states.

The Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens group then explained each of the twenty-seven Amendments to the Constitution.

The first ten Amendments became known as the Bill of Rights. Several states refused to ratify the Constitution until guarantees of individual rights were added.

Since the writing and ratification of the Constitution in 1789, only twenty-seven Amendments have been added, ten being the Bill of Rights to satisfy states and to make ratification successful.

So, in 237 years, only seventeen Amendments have been added to adjust and update the Constitution. How else has the Constitution been interpreted and changed?

Supreme Court cases, more specifically, Landmark Cases, labeled as such because of their historical and legal significance.

These cases often have a lasting effect on the application of certain laws and often deal with individual rights and liberties.

The courts do not make laws but as you will see in future columns, cases can affect laws as they change the interpretation of our Constitution.

Betsy Cook, member of Living Democracy: Engaging Citizens.

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 work.

Join us the third Monday of each month. livingdemocracymov@gmail.com and facebook/livingdemocracy:engagingcitizens and Youtube channel Living Democracy