Purpose of a Constitution

Purpose of a Constitution

  • Submitted By: coltonlohn
  • Date Submitted: 04/11/2013 9:57 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 895
  • Page: 4
  • Views: 120

"A constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people; it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government, lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." Despite that being true, it is unlikely for a government in operation today to be effectively inhibited by a constitution. Nevertheless it is still possible and the success of a constitution relies upon its ability to accomplish certain fundamental principles. One example is that it must be able to adequately constrain a political system’s influence, such as ability to enforce laws. Also it needs to maintain the protection a citizen’s rights and freedoms. Although constitutions may vary, these two aspects are vital for conserving the power of the majority. Before any attempts are made in explaining how constitutions carry out their function, it must first be determined what a constitution is exactly.

"The central goal of a constitution is to create the preconditions for a well-functioning democratic order, one in which citizens are genuinely able to govern themselves." Constitutions create the framework for governments to follow so that they do not infringe heavily on residents of the nation. Constitutions and democracy work collectively in order to properly articulate the goals of a nation rather than only the views of the governing body. The incorporation of a constitution not only increases the legitimacy of a government but also can enable it to be more productive. Implementing a constitution attempts to guarantee certain restrictions of government so that citizens are protected against efforts from the political system to impose on their rights and liberties. Due to the fact that constitutions consist of sets of dependable rules which are difficult to alter, once implemented it would be referenced quite often as a source to resolve political conflict. Meaning, rather than the need to dispute constantly over certain issues it would serve as the solutions to those...

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