The Importance Of The United States Constitution On Society and Culture
Having recently escaped from the authoritarianism of King George III and the chaos of the Articles of Confederation, the forefathers wrote the constitution "in order to from a more perfect union."1 Although the United States Constitution has served as a foundation for democracy and freedom in the United States, some may argue that it is outdated, and has several serious flaws. The first and most serious flaw is the fact that the consti
tution has not provided for the needs of women and minorities. Thus, the fact that the constitution may be outdated, or devoid of reflecting the values of today's society, it sets up the template for culture change within the realm of democracy. 4 In addition, the Constitution sets up the checks and balances that keep the legislature, judiciary, and executive branches from becoming too powerful. "3 Others suggest that the Constitution is loosing importance in light of increasing globalization, suggesting that the United States should rather be governed by international law and United Nation declarations. Made to be fluid, supporting amendments that can change the Constitution with the culture, the document's presence is still important in crafting the United States today. Hickerson2 notes that the constitution did not treat Native Americans, other minorities, and women as having been "created equal" and "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. Regardless of these attitudes, the importance of the Constitution can be seen in the makeup of the United States and its affects on society. Although Congress is tasked with creating laws to respond to the needs of society, that power is given to them by the Constitution. In addition, the Supreme Court's decision this past March has solidified this opinion, ruling that the United States' highest authority is the Constitution, not international rulings (Van Auken).
Common topics in this essay:
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Native Americans,
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United Constitution,
Supreme Court's,
Articles Confederation,
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George III,
Van Auken5,
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