Eleanor Finch
The US Constitution established a Federal democratic republic, with the purpose of the Federal Government being to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity. However, the original Constitution never articulated an affirmative right to vote for anyone, instead leaving voting privileges to the states. The House of Representatives was the only popularly elected body, with the franchise to elect representatives left to the states. The rest of the document contains features designed to limit direct popular rule and protect the interests of elites.
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What You'll Learn
The House of Representatives was the only popularly elected body
The US Constitution, established in 1789, set up a federal democratic republic, with the government's power derived from its people. The House of Representatives was the only popularly elected body. The franchise to elect representatives was left to the states and was very limited. Therefore, the House was a somewhat democratic feature of the original Constitution.
The Constitution is full of features designed to limit direct popular rule. The separation of powers, for example, slows down the government and makes it structurally unresponsive to large, sudden changes in popular will. The original, unamended Constitution required sustained public mood swings to elect enough representatives to the House and ensure that enough senators were selected by states to serve in Congress.
The original Constitution never articulated an affirmative right to vote for anyone, instead leaving the vote-granting privileges to the states. This meant that, in practice, democratic citizenship was restricted to an elite class, as was the case in virtually all democratic governments throughout ancient and modern history. In most modern democracies, universal suffrage has been achieved through the suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The US Constitution was a remarkable step forward for humankind, as it was the first written constitution for a large republic based on popular rule. Given the social norms of the time, it is difficult to imagine how the founders could have produced a document that was more democratic.
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The franchise to elect representatives was left to the states
The US Constitution established a federal democratic republic, a system in which the people govern themselves, and the government's power is derived from its people. The House of Representatives was the only popularly elected body, and the franchise to elect representatives was left to the states. This was a somewhat democratic feature of the Constitution, albeit limited.
The original Constitution never articulated an affirmative right to vote for anyone, instead leaving the vote-granting privileges to the states. This meant that in practice, the franchise was very limited. For example, in the period before 1776, only around 60% of adult white males could vote due to property ownership or taxpaying requirements. With few exceptions, no black people or women could vote.
The Constitution was a remarkable document steeped in cutting-edge political philosophy, and it was the first written constitution for a large republic based on popular rule. Given the social norms of the time, it is challenging to imagine a more democratic document. However, the Constitution also contained many features designed to limit direct popular rule and thwart majority will, such as the separation of powers, which slows down the government's response to sudden changes in popular will.
Overall, while the franchise to elect representatives was left to the states, the original US Constitution had a mixed record in terms of democracy, with some democratic features alongside elements designed to limit direct popular rule.
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The separation of powers
The legislative branch, consisting of Congress, is responsible for making laws. The Constitution vests legislative power in Congress, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress can write legislation to restrain executive officials and ensure they perform their duties as outlined by Congress. It also has the power to delegate certain responsibilities to other agencies, although it must be careful not to delegate its core lawmaking responsibilities.
The executive branch, led by the President, is responsible for enforcing the laws made by the legislative branch. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the military, has the power to make treaties and appointments, and ensures the laws are faithfully executed. The President cannot, however, make laws or usurp the powers of Congress through executive orders.
The judicial branch, headed by the Supreme Court, is responsible for interpreting the laws. This branch includes the Supreme Court and any lower courts created by Congress. The judiciary plays a crucial role in maintaining the separation of powers by hearing cases where one branch has allegedly usurped the powers of another. The Supreme Court has, for instance, ruled on the limits of Congress's power regarding the President's removal of executive officers.
While the original Constitution did not explicitly mention the separation of powers, the Framers intentionally structured the government this way to ensure liberty and prevent the concentration of power in one branch. This system of checks and balances has been described as promoting healthy tensions among the branches, stabilising democracy, and protecting against sudden changes in popular will.
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The lack of a positive right to vote
The original US Constitution established a federal democratic republic, outlining a system of government where the people govern themselves, and the government's power is derived from its people. However, the Constitution notably lacked a positive right to vote, leaving the vote-granting privileges to individual states. This absence of a uniform right to vote across the nation was a significant shortcoming in the democratic framework of the original Constitution.
The absence of a positive right to vote in the original Constitution had significant implications for the representation and inclusion of certain groups within the democratic process. For example, in the period before 1776, Colonial America had similar property qualifications as Britain, which restricted voting rights primarily to white male landowners or taxpayers. As a result, the majority of voters were white male farmers, while most blacks and women were excluded from the voting process.
While the original Constitution fell short in articulating a positive right to vote, it is important to acknowledge the historical context and the progressive nature of the document at the time of its creation. Given the social norms and political philosophies of the era, it was a remarkable achievement to establish a written constitution for a large republic based on popular rule. However, this context does not diminish the need for subsequent amendments and democratic reforms to address the shortcomings and ensure a more inclusive and responsive democratic process.
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The establishment of a federal democratic republic
The US Constitution established a federal democratic republic, a form of government without a monarch. In a federal democratic republic, the people govern themselves, and the government's power is derived from its people.
However, it is important to note that the original Constitution did not articulate a positive right to vote for all. Instead, it left the granting of voting privileges to the states, which had very limited franchises. The House of Representatives was the only popularly elected body, and the separation of powers further slowed down the government's responsiveness to sudden changes in popular will.
Despite these limitations, the establishment of a federal democratic republic laid the foundation for a more democratic future. The Constitution's emphasis on popular rule and the collective will of the voters, as well as its recognition of inherent rights, were important steps towards a more democratic society.
In conclusion, while the original Constitution had features that limited direct popular rule, the establishment of a federal democratic republic was a significant democratic feature. It set the framework for a government based on the consent of the governed, with the power ultimately derived from the people.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution established a Federal democratic republic, with the government's power derived from its people. The House of Representatives was the only popularly elected body under the original, un-amended Constitution.
The original Constitution never articulated an affirmative right to vote and left the vote-granting privileges to the states. The separation of powers also makes the government structurally unresponsive to large, sudden changes in popular will.
The US Constitution was a significant step forward for humankind, as it laid out a written constitution for a large republic based on popular rule for the first time. It established three main principles: inherent rights, popular sovereignty, and the social contract.
