Example Of Essay On Implementing The United States Constitution

The US constitution is an important instrument of the government and supreme law of land. Over the past two centuries, it has steered the fruition of government institutions and has offered a basis for individual freedom, political stability, social progress and economic growth. The US constitution is the oldest written law in effect and has served as a prototype for various constitutions in the world. This is owed to its flexibility and simplicity.
However, the road to the Constitution was not easy or straight. The draft document was surfaced in 1787 after an intense deliberation and a six year experience with the previous federal union. In 1776, 13 British colonized states declared their independence; freeing themselves from the colonialist; Britain. Six years earlier, a war for independence had broken out between Britain and the colonies. Although still entangled in the war, the colonies conscripted a compact which brought them together as a single nation. In 1777, this compact; referred to as the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union”, was accepted by a congress of the member states and in 1778, it was formally signed.
The articles were later on to be ratified; in 1781, making them binding. However, the compact was soon hit by weaknesses which led to the drawing up of the constitution. In early 1787, the continental congress called for a delegate convention which was held on May 1787; where a charter of new and centralized form of government was created. This new document; constitution was official signed and accepted in 1789.
The interface between the adoption of the compact and the constitution drafting was a weakness in itself because no provisions had been made for an executive arm of government to enforce the laws or a judiciary to interpret the laws. The legislative congress was the only organ but had no powers to push states to act against their wills. On one occasion, the sharp variations in opinions threatened to interfere with the constitution convention and cut short the proceeding before a draft was created. However, the high quality of delegates, they were able to compromise, drafting a constitution basing on their agreements. After drafting, ratification was not an easy way either. A few states were easily ratified the new constitution but after a few amendments and more compromises more states ratified. Although all states had not ratified, the final and complete implementation constitution was set for 4th March 1789.