The Constitution Pros And Cons

Over the years, there have been many debates regarding the constitution. One common debate being whether or not the constitution is flexible enough to live through the generations. Jefferson, a founding father, has stated, “The Constitution belongs to the living and not the dead.” This statement does allude to the longevity of the Constitution, as can be demonstrated through the amendment process, the elastic clause, and judicial review. The amendment process has allowed the United States government to amend the Constitution. By the founding fathers adding this process to the constitution, they ensured that the constitution will always be able to be amended to align with society ideals. This was the case with the 14th amendment. Previous to the time that the 14th amendment was passed, African-Americans had just been freed from slavery. Despite them being freed, they were not treated as citizens, even though that was the intention of the 13th amendment. Because society at the time called for citizenship for African Americans, the US government ended up needing to create an amendment in order fro the constitution to keep up the pace with society. Another example would be the 18th and the 21st amendment. Right before the first alcohol related amendment was added to the constitution, many people had several grievances towards the consumption of alcohol. These grievances eventually led to the ratification of the 18th amendment. However, after this amendment was passed crime rates skyrocketed. More people than ever before began drinking alcohol illegally. This led the government to create an amendment that continued the spirit of the 18th but also canceled out the 18th amendment. Both of these amendments demonstrate how the amendment process has allowed the constitution to serve “the living and not the dead,” since both amendments have allowed the constitution to continue to be relevant to society and its ideals. Over the course of the years, the elastic clause has allowed for the government to do things that are not stated in the constitution they can do. This alludes to longevity of the Constitution because it demonstrates how the government can create legislatures that fit the needs of society at that time, despite that power of Congress not bring explicitly stated in the constitution. Where as if this were not to be allowed, the government itself would be outdated and would, in a …show more content…
Another method in which the constitution demonstrates that it was created to benefit those that are alive would be the power of the judicial branch. A power that at one point was not stated in the Constitution; Judicial review. Judicial review has allowed for the government to amend the constitution, in a sense, without actually changing anything in the constitution except for how it is interpreted. Just by changing how the constitution is interpreted, the judicial branch is able to change it so that it can support the ideals of the present society. Such can be demonstrated in the case Roe v Wade. Prior to this case, it was looked down upon for people to be supporting abortions. However, after this case interpreted the Constitution to respect the privacy of people, and for the privacy to include abortions, many more people began to be supportive of supporting them. This demonstrates how judicial review has allowed the constitution to be and continue to be relevant through numerous