The Constitution was ratified over 200 years ago, how can it still be an effective governing document today?

blondietatt04

Because we're constantly amending it.

halfzeimer

The difference between right and wrong hasn't changed since the beginning of time. New things do come up, and that's why laws and amendments are added to the original constitution. It keeps the original constitution relevant to today's society.

Pete M

The fact that 200 years later you guys are still following it. If I were you, I'd be glad to have one. Here in sunny old England we answer to the Europeans.

MIGHTY MINNIE

If the politicians of today had the brains that the framers of the Constitution had, it would work.........

woodsman

RIGHT ON BILL AND CAREY S. The sad part is that most adults today never read it, they might talk about it, but they never read it. Ask them when the last time they read it, most common answer will be, "back when I was in high school". The people need to learn how to make the government follow it, rather than listening to them.

-doozer-

If politicians would quit trying to change it our country would be great!

Mr.Know-it-all

so what do you think senators and representatives do? remember the executve enforces, the judicial explains and makes sure they're legitimate, and the LEGISLATIVE makes the laws. They have amended the constitution dozens of times!! Of course we have to have core beliefs as a nation that aren't going to change with time, such as equality or freedom of speech!

Steve M

Because it is a "living document". Look it up.

Bill and Carey S

Such short answers. Most people don't have a clue. It's not a great document because we can change it, it's a great document already and it will remain that way...if we leave it alone.

The U.S. Constitution is a masterpiece.

It is an effective document, but it's not effective today because they keep changing it... adding to it... and because we don't follow it at all... not in the slightest. Every problem in this country today comes from our butchering our own constitution.

Look at the Bill of Rights, our first 10 amendments. The Founding Fathers were very explicit in what they were trying to convey to the people and the government. The purpose of the Bill of Rights is not really to give us rights as citizens...

BUT TO LIMIT THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT.

If you'll notice, the Bill of Rights doesn't say, "You have the right to free speech." Instead it says...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The key words being "Congress shall write no law".

The 2nd amendment doesn't say, "You have the right to bear arms", it instead says...

"the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Pretty concise and exact. It shall not be infringed. Congress can write no law.

They were pretty explicit when they wrote these limits on the federal government. We just throw all that out the window today. We write laws about EVERYTHING.

The bigger government gets, the less freedoms we have. Our government is a bloated leviathon. We have no freedom as a result.

This is why we are going downhill.

If you really wanna learn about this, look at this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_MIoexgxUE

Governments cause wars... not people.
Governements cause oppression... not people.

Our rights are given to us by our Creator... not by the government. That is why they are called inalieanable rights. They cannot be taken away. (Even though they are, more and more every day... by our oppressive government. This is what the Founders wanted to prevent.)

Haluai

Because it is based on basic principles and rights.

patriotic italienneâ„¢ v1.01

The founding fathers foresaw many of the problems that could happen. If you don't understand and learn from history, you are bound to repeat it. Also, we can make amendments at any time, when 2/3 of the states agree and ratify.

winker

Because basic human rights never go out of fashion.

Gentle Giant

Easy!
It was well thought out and allows for amendments as conditions change. It is the finest governing document ever written.
The Bible is somewhat older and is still considered by many to be valid.

ColleenIsBack

It is still an 'effective governing document' today because it has been amended when necessary to keep abreast of the times and because it is continually interpreted by the courts when applying it to present day issues. Its flexibility and the ability of the courts to apply the case law generated by its application make it as viable today as it was when it was enacted.

To answer above: The courts have interpreted the document since the days of Justice John Marshall. The courts and Article 5 and the amendments ALL have kept the document viable. To say otherwise is to deny history.

Bill C

The Constitution lays down the "PRINCIPLES" of a government

open4one

Assuming it is followed, it would be effective simply because of the 9th and 10th Amendments, and Article 5.

9 and 10 make it clear to anyone not in Congress that the Federal authority is limited to that which is expressly granted in the Constitution. The Constitution is "living" only in the sense that it can be altered to meet changing needs, as long as the correct procedure to do so is followed. That procedure is Article 5.

If we decided that we wanted there to be a "right to privacy", we could add it in an Amendment. We don't have to assume that a court, one created under the Constitution and therefore not above it, has the power to change the Constitution at will, or that to not grant such power negates the value of the Constitution. Article 5 gives us a way to do what we need to do.

The Constitution is only as effective as we make it, depending on whether we vote for people that ignore it or allow others to ignore it. If it is in any sense "living" (meaning adaptable to changing needs), it is Article 5 that gives it life, not courts.

Prof Space Cowboy

Look around. Is it?

Midwest Dummy Man

i totally agree, there are so many laws that need to come off the books.

sleepy but can't sleep

it really isn't, its never really followed

LuckyWindy

It was a joke.

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