Ten Amendments

Superior Essays
Show More
On September 17th of 1787, a group of men to whom we call “The Founding Fathers,” wrote one of the most famous documents; The United States Constitution. The goal when writing the constitution was to help better American lives by creating a set of Ten Amendments that grant basic rights to all citizens. The Founding Fathers essentially took pieces out of other famous documents like those of The Magna Carta (1215), The English Bill of Rights (1689), and The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom (1786) to help conserve rights to everyone (Hardy 8). As time went on, it became clear that the amendments originally written were not clear and the interpretation needed to be changed. “Overtime, Supreme Court justices began to follow one of two courses …show more content…
It is said that by adding amendments as well as changing the interpretation of the current amendments potentially changes what the founding fathers intended for the constitution. The intention to write the constitution was to help our society change but the many who argue that it should not alter do not wish for changes like women voting. “The role of federal courts, particularly the supreme court is to interpret the laws, including the United States Constitution, and render decisions in the legal cases that arise under their jurisdiction within the framework of legal precedents- no to nudge the constitution to new meanings not included in the original text” (Jacobs 3). Changing the constitution could potentially hurt our society and government today. Today’s society will be hurt by the things we change within the constitution. “The dangers to the new system of government ensured by the first president apparently did not lie within the desire of the people to improve it in the light of experience” (Vital Speeches Of The Day 4). If political powers grant the people of the United States to change things written within the constitution, the people may take advantage of that. For example, the people would want to change legal matters like drug use and alcohol consumption age. Giving the people …show more content…
The society within the United States is changing and so should we to not only help our society but to help our government grow as well. “The strength of the United States Constitution is its inheritability to change as society does. The constitution is applied as it is interpreted by judges, most importantly the nine justices of the united states supreme court and altered by amendments (...) (Evinger 4). By allowing the constitution to change as our government and society needs to, we are able to grow as a nation as time continues. If the constitution stops being amended,the constitution we could have a society that does not follow what the government says because they do not want to conform to society. Our nation has changes so much since the constitution was written including population, states (now 50), capital buildings, supreme court/white house buildings, new acts, more government spending ($3.8 trillion), political parties, religious/race freedom, and more (Hardy 9). Should our country have the same laws as over 225 years ago? Our country is at a point where change should happen because of how much our country has grown over the years. We would have no individual expression or freedom that we do today if the constitution were never amended. The basis of our political system is the right of the people to alter their constitution of government, but the constitution

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Us Constitution
    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Us Constitution

    You may heard the U.S constitution called “a living document” Though it may seem like a dry piece of paper to you, it really is designed to live and grow as the nation grows. Here is my perception of the “living document”. The Constitution has held the United States government together for over 200 years with astoundingly few changes,there have been just 27 endorsed alterations to a limited extent since it is such a troublesome procedure. That is the general purpose, and that is the reason there haven't been any augmentations since 1992, a long time before the new thousand years. As far as rights are concerned for every American citizen, it is a guidebook for our society and as long as we have Supreme Court Justices that are willing to not be controlled by the far right, it protects majority aspects of our freedom and liberties.…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Fourth Amendment Disadvantages
    • 1756 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Fourth Amendment Disadvantages

    This paper reflects upon the establishment of the Fourth Amendment, added as part of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791. From the colonial era to the establishment of the United States Constitution in September 17, 1787, Philadelphia. The implementation of the United States Supreme Court in 1789; under the Judiciary Act of 1789. The many challenges surrounding the notion that “Every man 's home is his castle” The Constitution of the United States: Fourth Amendment Rights…

    • 1756 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Brennan's Argument Analysis
    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Brennan's Argument Analysis

    A hot debate relevant for today is the question of how the constitution is to be interpreted. When writing the constitution, the founding fathers were clearly living in an ern which entailed concerns that are different from concerns today. During the constitutional convention, men discussed debated until they agree on what should become the framework for our great nation. Because of this the constitution appears to be ambiguous on many particular issues which we face today. Are we then to address those issues in light of the context in which the constitution was written, or are we to view it as a living document that’s meaning changes with time?…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Constitution Pros And Cons
    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages

    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.…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Summary Of A More Perfect Constitution By Larry Sabato
    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Summary Of A More Perfect Constitution By Larry Sabato

    The current Constitution allows for an amendment to be passed with ⅔ votes from both chambers of Congress and also with ¾ of the state’s approval or with ⅔ of the state legislatures calling for a convention. Sabato’s view on calling a convention is interesting in that his interpretation of a state’s petition to call a Constitutional Convention never dies as well as the visual of a light on, light off policy. Proposed amendments that a state switches it’s light on for will remain on until they reach 34 states with their lights on or until the state shuts it’s light off. This visual allows for a Convention to be called the moment the 34th state light went on, meaning a Convention could be called promptly. The one area Sabato says needs to be addressed is the lack of a standardized way of submitting applications for an amendment or convention.…

    • 1230 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Founding Fathers Vision
    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Founding Fathers Vision

    To properly answer this question, we first have to identify what exactly the founding fathers vision actually was. Now, we obviously can't say for certain, as they lived over two hundred years ago, but we can formulate an educated guess by examining quotes from the founding fathers, their actions, and the constitution itself. Although, even in their quotes, the founding fathers do seem to contradict each other, as well as occasionally themselves. However, amongst the other contradictory and some simply incomprehensible quotes, these three, by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, stand out: "To take a single step beyond the text would be to take possession of a boundless field of power." - Thomas Jefferson "The basis of our political systems…

    • 1144 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Why Is The Constitution Outdated
    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Why Is The Constitution Outdated

    Most people wouldn’t know most of the things that the Constitution says in it. It is becoming old and people are forgetting about it. Sure the Constitution is ubiquitous, but it is also unknown to some people. The U.S. Constitution is an extraordinary document.…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Governmental Structure In The United States
    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Governmental Structure In The United States

    In 1788 the Federalist Papers were mostly written by Madison. The ideas shared in the Federalist Papers were relevant when Madison was alive, however, the problem is: are they still relevant and effective today. First governmental structure in USA is unique, no other government has the same system as this country. It is the only country that changed everything dealing with politics back in that decade, which shows how much the founding fathers were aware of the political issues. News in those days were spread quicker as they occurred but unfortunately most of it are not true or even reliable.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    First Ten Amendments Of The Constitution
    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages

    First Ten Amendments Of The Constitution

    The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and ratified by the states in 1789. In the Case of Marybury v. Madison, the Supreme Court ruled that it had powers to interpret the Constitution. According to legal resources, constitutional law deals with the fundamental principles by which the regime exercises its ascendancy. In some instances, these principles grant concrete powers to the regime, such as the puissance to tax and spend for the welfare of the population. Other times, constitutional principles act to place limits on what the regime can do, such as enjoining the apprehending of an individual without sufficient cause.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Constitution Outdated Analysis
    • 1089 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Constitution Outdated Analysis

    As an antifederalist, the Constitution should be amended according to the needs of the current American society. An Antifederalists argues against the Constitution in attempt to improve upon the rights guaranteed to the people. Contrary to this view, a Federalist believes that the Constitution is acceptable the way it is. However, this is false. The Constitution has several parts that are in need of updates in order to suit the current American society.…

    • 1089 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Separation Of The Constitution And The Bill Of Rights
    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Separation Of The Constitution And The Bill Of Rights

    The American government, and how it functions, is built upon the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Constitution serves to define the boundaries in which the government operates. It separates the government into three branches, and declares the powers given to each, also known as the ‘separation of powers’ (Paletz 69). The powers of the state are also listed, and thus establishes the different responsibilities of the national government and the state government. The various Articles within the Constitution structure many different things, like how many terms an official can serve and how a president is to be elected.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    The Bill Of Rights
    • 1463 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The Bill Of Rights

    In the fifty first letter in the Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, it states, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” James Madison was the person that proposed the Bill of Rights, and this quote really shows why he did it. The Bill of Rights is there to protect the people from the government taking away their rights as humans. It is a way to keep the government in check and from turning tyrannical.…

    • 1463 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    18th Century: The Constitution And Bill Of Rights
    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages

    18th Century: The Constitution And Bill Of Rights

    The Constitution and Bill of Rights Written in the 18th century, the Constitution and Bill of Rights revolutionized what it really meant to be an American and live in America. The Constitution came first but lacked the support of state delegates “George Mason of Virginia and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts,” (Paletz ,Owen, Cook) due to the lack of a Bill of Rights, which was then written in 1787 to reassure the people of America that their rights were still intact and weren’t being taken over by a tyrannical government system. At the time, these documents were a radical idea to have and were celebrated as a sign that America was really its own independent nation. However, in today’s day and age it’s come into question whether these documents…

    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Purpose Of The Constitution Essay
    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Purpose Of The Constitution Essay

    When it comes to any important historical document, there are going to many different interpretations. Everyone will be given the same text to read, but very few people will be able to completely agree as to what it means. This idea isn’t even specific to documents like the Constitution, it holds true with just about any reading. When it does come to the Constitution, the question as to what it means is as big as ever.…

    • 520 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Benefits Of The Living Constitution
    • 203 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Benefits Of The Living Constitution

    Technology has changed, the international situation has changed, the economy has changed, and social mores have changed, all in ways that no one could have thought of when the Constitution was drafted. In fact, the people who thought of the idea of a living constitution have stated their arguments so strongly that, among people who write about constitutional law, the term "the living constitution" is hardly ever used. The Constitution is supposed to be a solid foundation, the embodiment of our most fundamental principles-that's the whole idea of having a constitution. If the Constitution is not constant, if it changes from time to time, then someone is changing it, and doing so according to his or her own ideas about what the Constitution should…

    • 203 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2023 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings