After 8 years under the Articles of Confederation, leading citizens of the United States realized that they required a more powerful government. The Articles allowed too much liberty to the states and not enough power to the federation. The creation and ratification of the Constitution installed a more powerful federal government. Stronger, The United States reinforced ideals of democracy. With separation of powers, checks and balances, and the bill of rights, the constitution simultaneously established a greater national government and insured democratic principles. The document furthered the democratic nature of the United States by building a powerful government, controlled by the voting citizens. The separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches works against tyranny and ensures that power rests with differing interest groups. Checks and balances specify each branch’s powers so that they may exercise their right to subdue the others’. Lastly, the Bill of Rights lays out the protections that all citizens have against their government. The Constitution balances power between all citizens, and encourages a democratic rule of law.
Separation of power within the federal government allows for all three branches to operate with influence. Having three branches of government elected by different means allows interest groups to be heard through three different channels. The President of the United States was originally appointed by electors chosen by state legislatures. Similarly, Senators were appointed by state legislatures. The House of Representatives is elected by popular vote in the states, and federal judges are chosen by presidents. The end result is a government that stems from the voting citizens. Voters elect state legislatures, which choose electors and senators. The electors select the president, who chooses judges. The voting citizens also elect representatives to congress that together hold the same amount of power as the senate. The founding fathers created this extensive system with separation of power and democracy in mind. They didn’t only balance the three branches, but also the masses and the elite. The system ensures that no one person holds any more political power than another. The interests of all are held in equal regard in the constitution.
The system of checks and balances specified in the Constitution of the United States ensures that the three reigning branches have the ability to regulate each other. The President, Congress, and the Judiciary yield powers to overrule decisions made in the other branches. The President must sign all legislation passed by congress for it to become law. If the president refuses to sign and vetoes the law, checking the power of the legislature, then a two thirds vote in congress can overrule the president’s veto. Furthermore, the judiciary can overrule legislature and executive orders. The Legislative branch may also remove any judge, president or legislator with a two thirds vote. The intricate system was created to ensure that one power cannot institute radical or unsupported policy. If one of the branches acts radically without the consent of another, their actions can be canceled. In other words, if the general populus largely disagrees with a decision, politicians representing that group can work to stop the action. The nature of checks and balances in government is democratic because it limits the power of the elite and favors the ideals of the overall population.
The Bill of Rights represents the most democratic section of the original Constitution. The powers provided by checks and balances and the separation of powers only pertain to the select few whom held the power to vote in 1789. The Bill of Rights, however, provides all citizens with specific protections against their government. All citizens within the United States were provided with inalienable rights. These rights are democratic because they allow all denizens to rely on a set of unwavering freedoms so that they can be active members of their country without fear of persecution. The rights to free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and others allow for citizens to push for liberalization of their country. Those rights allowed for voting equality, racial equality, marriage equality etc. Some argue that the constitution of the United States was not democratic because it excluded most of the population from participating in government. It is true that only landed white men could vote at first, however, the bill of rights permits the extension of the vote. By designating freedoms, citizens of the United States could freely push to extend rights to the masses. The Constitution could not be an extremely radical document in 1789 because it had to be ratified by at least 9 states. That limited overly democratic ideals, like the extension of the vote, because the ratifying bodies of states were made up of elite white men. However, the constructors of the constitution built a framework for liberation into the constitution with the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution of the United States allowed for democratic governance. The Bill of Rights allowed for citizens to begin radical political movements that eventually became law. Checks and Balances ensured that no policy was permitted without the support of the voters and the separation of power warded off tyranny. Using the original framework of the Constitution, the United States has excelled and become an extremely democratic nation. Every citizen of the country now receives a vote which has allowed for incredible leaps forward in policy, like marriage equality. The Constitution of the United States is the longest standing governing document in the world and continues to act as the epitome of democratizing constitutions.
Separation of power within the federal government allows for all three branches to operate with influence. Having three branches of government elected by different means allows interest groups to be heard through three different channels. The President of the United States was originally appointed by electors chosen by state legislatures. Similarly, Senators were appointed by state legislatures. The House of Representatives is elected by popular vote in the states, and federal judges are chosen by presidents. The end result is a government that stems from the voting citizens. Voters elect state legislatures, which choose electors and senators. The electors select the president, who chooses judges. The voting citizens also elect representatives to congress that together hold the same amount of power as the senate. The founding fathers created this extensive system with separation of power and democracy in mind. They didn’t only balance the three branches, but also the masses and the elite. The system ensures that no one person holds any more political power than another. The interests of all are held in equal regard in the constitution.
The system of checks and balances specified in the Constitution of the United States ensures that the three reigning branches have the ability to regulate each other. The President, Congress, and the Judiciary yield powers to overrule decisions made in the other branches. The President must sign all legislation passed by congress for it to become law. If the president refuses to sign and vetoes the law, checking the power of the legislature, then a two thirds vote in congress can overrule the president’s veto. Furthermore, the judiciary can overrule legislature and executive orders. The Legislative branch may also remove any judge, president or legislator with a two thirds vote. The intricate system was created to ensure that one power cannot institute radical or unsupported policy. If one of the branches acts radically without the consent of another, their actions can be canceled. In other words, if the general populus largely disagrees with a decision, politicians representing that group can work to stop the action. The nature of checks and balances in government is democratic because it limits the power of the elite and favors the ideals of the overall population.
The Bill of Rights represents the most democratic section of the original Constitution. The powers provided by checks and balances and the separation of powers only pertain to the select few whom held the power to vote in 1789. The Bill of Rights, however, provides all citizens with specific protections against their government. All citizens within the United States were provided with inalienable rights. These rights are democratic because they allow all denizens to rely on a set of unwavering freedoms so that they can be active members of their country without fear of persecution. The rights to free speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble and others allow for citizens to push for liberalization of their country. Those rights allowed for voting equality, racial equality, marriage equality etc. Some argue that the constitution of the United States was not democratic because it excluded most of the population from participating in government. It is true that only landed white men could vote at first, however, the bill of rights permits the extension of the vote. By designating freedoms, citizens of the United States could freely push to extend rights to the masses. The Constitution could not be an extremely radical document in 1789 because it had to be ratified by at least 9 states. That limited overly democratic ideals, like the extension of the vote, because the ratifying bodies of states were made up of elite white men. However, the constructors of the constitution built a framework for liberation into the constitution with the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution of the United States allowed for democratic governance. The Bill of Rights allowed for citizens to begin radical political movements that eventually became law. Checks and Balances ensured that no policy was permitted without the support of the voters and the separation of power warded off tyranny. Using the original framework of the Constitution, the United States has excelled and become an extremely democratic nation. Every citizen of the country now receives a vote which has allowed for incredible leaps forward in policy, like marriage equality. The Constitution of the United States is the longest standing governing document in the world and continues to act as the epitome of democratizing constitutions.