Democracy And Protection: Where Does The Constitution Stand?

where is democracy and protection guaranteed in the constitution

Democracy and protection are guaranteed in the Constitution. The Constitution is fundamentally about the protection of natural liberty and the need to place limits on the right of democratic majorities to infringe the personal liberty of all Americans. The Framers of the 14th Amendment made birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee, providing constitutional protection for all.

Characteristics Values
Democracy Guaranteed
Liberty Guaranteed
Protection of natural liberty Guaranteed
Right of democratic majorities to infringe the personal liberty of Americans Limited

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Liberty and democracy are guaranteed by the Constitution

The Constitution does not force a choice between liberty and democracy. It guarantees both.

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The Constitution is about the protection of natural liberty

The story begins in the Founding era, with the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but does not end there. The Framers of the 14th Amendment made birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee, providing constitutional protection for all.

Some, like Will, reject democracy as a basic constitutional value, viewing it simply as the right of majorities to have their way. However, this view evades specifics and unfairly tarnishes progressives as enemies of liberty.

The Constitution does not force a choice between liberty and democracy, but guarantees both.

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The Constitution is not about choosing between liberty and democracy

Will claims that the Constitution is fundamentally about the protection of 'natural liberty', and the need to place limits on the right of democratic majorities to infringe the personal liberty of all Americans. However, Will fails to grapple with the whole Constitution. It was the Framers of the 14th Amendment who made birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee, provided constitutional protection for all.

Will rejects democracy as a basic constitutional value, viewing it simply as the right of majorities to have their way. However, this evades specifics entirely, unfairly tarnishing progressives as enemies of liberty.

No one doubts that the protection of 'natural liberty' is a core aspect of the Constitution, and contrary to Will’s simplistic attack, there isn't a single progressive who would disagree.

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The Constitution is not about democracy as the right of majorities to have their way

The Constitution guarantees both liberty and democracy. However, the word 'democracy' does not appear in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. Instead, the Constitution is fundamentally about the protection of 'natural liberty' and the need to place limits on the right of democratic majorities to infringe the personal liberty of all Americans.

Will's column rejects democracy as a basic constitutional value, viewing it as the right of majorities to have their way. However, this view evades specifics and unfairly tarnishes progressives as enemies of liberty.

The story of the Constitution begins with the Founding era and the Declaration of Independence, but it does not end there. The Framers of the 14th Amendment made birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee, providing constitutional protection for all. The Constitution does not force a choice between liberty and democracy; it guarantees both.

cycivic

The Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship

The Constitution guarantees both liberty and democracy. While the word 'democracy' does not appear in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, it is a core aspect of the Constitution. The Constitution is also about the protection of 'natural liberty', and the need to place limits on the right of democratic majorities to infringe the personal liberty of all Americans.

> 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.'

Birthright citizenship was explicitly added to the Constitution in 1868 when the 14th Amendment was adopted following the Civil War. This means that the United States is one of roughly 30 countries, including neighbouring Canada and Mexico, that offer automatic citizenship to everyone born there.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, the Constitution guarantees both liberty and democracy.

No, the word 'democracy' does not appear in the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence.

The Constitution is fundamentally about the protection of 'natural liberty' and the need to place limits on the right of democratic majorities to infringe the personal liberty of all Americans.

The 14th Amendment made birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee, providing constitutional protection for all.

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