Essay on The Shaping of the U.S. Constitution - 2037 Words

In the initial years of the United States a meeting of delegates appointed by the several states met for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. The result of this meeting was the creation of the U.S. Constitution that would soon become the ultimate directive for both Federal and State Governments. Since its birth it has been revised, amended, and ratified in order to solidify the allocation of power between the separate branches of government. Although this may be the case, distribution of the powers has been disputed ever since the formation of the Constitution. These political, legal, and quasi-legal constitutional disputes triggered civil unrest and led to explicit acts of opposition involving nullification and†¦show more content†¦Nullification considered by some, as the proper exercise of a state’s constitutional right to limit federal powers, is debated by others as the definitive unbalancing of the powers given to the state by the U.S. Cons titution and Bill of Rights. Federalism: Nation v. State When the government first achieved independence from England there were thirteen individual governments. They had an agreement called the Articles of Confederation that specified how each would interact with the others and manage the states. Despite the ratification by every state the agreement soon became problematic. What ensued was the meeting of state delegates, known as the Constitutional Convention, who planned to revise the problems. As a result the U.S. Constitution was fashioned to take its place. The idea was to ultimately federalize the States. That means each State remains an individual government but also agrees to be part of a Union. Thus created a federal government that would handle those things that are best controlled by a central government, which acts on behalf of the many States. An example would be the Navy and Army. The Federal Government has the right to raise and maintain a full time standing military. The Federal government is not limited to just the enumera ted powers granted to Congress. It was also arranged that the national government would have powers not specifically stated in the Constitution, called implied powers. Although popularShow MoreRelatedThe United States And The Native Americans Essay1594 Words   |  7 Pagesare a lot more complex interactions once thoroughly examined. The U.S, once a colony of the Europeans, eventually grew into the strong standing nation that it is today. Meanwhile the original inhabitants, the Native Americans, often received the aggression and oppression of this growing nation, but they weren’t the savages the U.S. claimed them to be. In fact, the Iroquois Confederacy was the main influence of the U.S Constitution. This paper will discuss the differences as well as the similaritiesRead MoreUs Constitution Essay1164 Words   |  5 Pagesitself from British rule. Alongside it grew in many aspects but also needed to improve others. Living off the British before, the U.S. now had to start mak ing â€Å"independent† decisions as an â€Å"independent† nation. The United States of America suffered from political, economic, and diplomatic crises throughout the 1780s shaping provisions of the United States Constitution. The American Revolution was shadowed by an unembellished economic depression in 1784 and 1785, forcing many states to execute chargesRead MoreThe Shaping Of The Constitution1129 Words   |  5 PagesShaping of the constitution In the initial years of the United States a meeting of delegates appointed by the several states met for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. The result of this meeting was the creation of the U.S. Constitution that would soon become the ultimate directive for both Federal and State Governments. Since its birth it has been revised, amended, and ratified in order to solidify the allocation of power between the separate branches of government. AlthoughRead MoreThe History Of America Research Paper909 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween the Enlightenment and the U.S. Constitution, the Northwest Ordinance and the Bill of Rights, plus the Magna Carta and the Northwest Ordinance are substantial and played a crucial role in shaping the United States as it is today.   Ã‚  Ã‚   During the Enlightenment a notable philosophe and public figure by the name of Montesquieu wrote a book by the name â€Å"The Spirit Of The Laws†.   This book came out in 1749, 38 years before the U.S. Constitution. While the U.S. Constitution was created 38 years later,Read MoreThe Judicial Branch827 Words   |  4 PagesWe have enough evidence to see how our judicial branch should act. Should the judicial branch be more active towards shaping American policy or restrain as long as possible before being forced to act upon very critical civil policies? Judicial activism is the view that the Supreme Court should be an active and creative partner with the legislative and executive branches in shaping government policy (Wasserman American Politics 138). The believers of this philosophical view of how our judicial branchRead MoreWhy The U.s. Constitution845 Words   |  4 Pagespeople of this great country always make tough decisions that will influence and shape the future of our society. That is why the U.S. Constitution was put in place it is a stable of change, because the founders knew nothing in the world is completely perfect, yet with time things will change and the people must adapt to the times. The preamble introduces the constitution, and states that the government comes from the people. Its general purposes are in order to form a more perfect union we have toRead MoreWhat Is Our Safeguard Against Corruption Performed By Federal Officeholders?1422 Words   |  6 Pagesis our safeguard against corruption performed by federal officeholders? It is impeachment. Impeachment is the Constitutional power given to the House of Representatives to remove a federal officeholder from office. â€Å"Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, ‘The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdem eanors’. (Longley). The power of impeachmentRead MoreTexas Is Not An Individualistic State1117 Words   |  5 Pagesmade a constitution that made the government more centralized, provided compulsory school attendance, and guaranteed a full range of rights for former slaves. By far, this constitution was a great stride forward in civil rights and made the government more efficient. However, white Southerners were extremely angered by this because of their racist attitudes and stubbornness. When reconstruction ended, white Texans quickly took back the state and created a new constitution. This new constitution reflectsRead MoreEssay On How To Become A Nation1034 Words   |  5 PagesOver 200 years ago, the United States of America declared its independence from the tyrannical rule of the British government. The Constitution was signed more than a decade later, following years of debate and bitter compromise. Today, this document is still heavily relied on as a one-size-fits-a ll guide for deciding how to evolve as a nation. But in order for the U.S. to truly move forward as a nation governed by the people, it must learn from its past and form its own objectives and values thatRead MoreHealth Care: Enforcing the Social Contract1012 Words   |  5 Pagesinterest(Dautrich, 7). In other words, if people came to an agreement about health care being available for all American citizens, the government will uphold this idea and will make sure all American citizens have the right to health care. The U.S. Constitution is a good foundation for implementing health care for people all over the world and article 1 section 8 clause 1 explains the power of government when it comes to health care. According to the Enduring Democracy book, The Congress shall have