The Strengths and The Strengths and Weaknesses of Our Weaknesses of Our

Constitutional systemConstitutional system

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Section 5Section 5

How can we explain the remarkable How can we explain the remarkable fact that a constitution created more fact that a constitution created more than 200 years ago is still the basis than 200 years ago is still the basis for one of the most successful and for one of the most successful and stable governments in the world?stable governments in the world?

Some of the reasons are as follows:Some of the reasons are as follows:

The The ConstitutionConstitution is a is a briefbrief and and flexibleflexible set of set of guidelinesguidelines, allowing the , allowing the governmentgovernment to to adaptadapt to to changechange. .

Thus, each Thus, each generationgeneration has been able has been able to to interpretinterpret the the ConstitutionConstitution in terms in terms of changing of changing needsneeds and and conditionsconditions..

At the same time, the At the same time, the traditionaltraditional values and values and principlesprinciples of the of the ConstitutionConstitution are still are still respectedrespected..

The The PreamblePreamble emphasizes that emphasizes that the Constitution is a document of the Constitution is a document of the people, not of the states. the people, not of the states.

The principles of The principles of separationseparation of of powerspowers and and checkschecks and and balancesbalances have helped have helped block the possibility of one of the three block the possibility of one of the three branches wielding absolute power.branches wielding absolute power.

The The Bill of RightsBill of Rights has served to has served to protect individual liberties.protect individual liberties.

AmendmentsAmendments to the Constitution to the Constitution have extended have extended voting rightsvoting rights to all to all groupsgroups in the adult in the adult populationpopulation..

Although the original Constitution Although the original Constitution had many strengths, it has been had many strengths, it has been criticizedcriticized for its for its omissionsomissions with with regard to regard to equalityequality. .

These criticisms include the These criticisms include the following:following:

The Constitution failed to guarantee The Constitution failed to guarantee that that womenwomen receive equal receive equal treatmenttreatment, , including the right to including the right to votevote. .

Other rights denied to Other rights denied to womenwomen were the were the right to hold right to hold propertyproperty in their own in their own namename, and the right of women to be , and the right of women to be legal guardianslegal guardians of their own of their own childrenchildren..

Although Although African AmericansAfrican Americans had fought in the had fought in the Revolutionary War, the Revolutionary War, the Constitution failed to Constitution failed to abolish abolish slaveryslavery..

The The ConstitutionConstitution failed to failed to guarantee the right to guarantee the right to votevote for for all all white maleswhite males many of whom many of whom were denied that right by were denied that right by states that maintained states that maintained propertyproperty qualifications for qualifications for voting.voting.