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VOA Editorials NO.12
Certain aspects of the United States government are unique, none more so that the law of the land, the United States Constitution. Drafted in 1787 and ratified in 1789, 1)
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The Constitution’s preamble, or introduction, begins with the words “We the People,” indicating that although the document was written to establish a national government, 2)
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The body of the Document sets out the balance and separation of power among the three branches of the Government: the Legislative, or law-making branch that is the U.S. Congress, the Executive branch which is headed by the President, and the Judiciary, 3)
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Having just won a war to rid themselves of an authoritarian government, 4)
,17) could not wield absolute power, but at the same time, could not be superseded by individual states.
So, the Constitution defines the states’ relationship to the federal government, as well as the rights and responsibilities of state governments. 5)
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Ironically, this helped the Constitution to overcome its first major hurdle—ratification by the thirteen states that made up the United States of the time.
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.26) Many saw a strong central government as a threat to individual rights. So, to obtain ratification in several vacillating states, ten Amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were added.
In the words of James Madison, who is considered to be the Father of the Constitution, “The people are the only legitimate fountain of power, 7)
.”21) Aired: July 2, 2017.
