Simone Lawson
Ben Shapiro, an American conservative political commentator, media proprietor, and attorney, has written and spoken extensively about the U.S. Constitution. Shapiro believes that the Constitution is the single greatest founding governmental document in the history of the world and that it needs to be amended to restore the founding principles of limited federal government and checks and balances. He has criticised those who seek to destroy or disregard the Constitution, arguing that limits are key to successful governance and that drastic change without constitutional limits often leads to tyranny.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| View on the Constitution | Shapiro believes that the Constitution is the "single greatest founding governmental document in the history of the world" and that it needs to be amended to save the principles enshrined in it. |
| Amendments | Shapiro supports the idea of amending the Constitution to restore the founding principle of a limited federal government. He cites the erosion of checks and balances and the increasing power of the executive branch as reasons for this. |
| Federalism | Shapiro emphasizes the importance of federalism in the Constitution, arguing that localism provides a surer and more immediate method of governance. |
| Checks and Balances | Shapiro highlights the importance of checks and balances in the Constitution to prevent federal dominance and mob majoritarianism. He believes that the power of state legislatures to act as a check on abuses of power by Washington, DC, has been eroded. |
| Role of Government | Shapiro agrees with the founders' view that the government's job is to protect rights to life, liberty, and property. He criticizes the Left's perspective, arguing that a large federal government can impose its views on diverse jurisdictions and ways of life. |
| Political Dysfunction | Shapiro acknowledges that American politics is in disarray and attributes this, in part, to the failure to update the Constitution and the structure of government. |
| Proposed Amendments | While Shapiro does not specify particular amendments, he references Dr. Larry Sabato's book, which proposes 23 amendments, including structural, political, and idealistic changes. |
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What You'll Learn
- Ben Shapiro supports amending the Constitution to save its principles
- He believes that the Constitution is the greatest founding governmental document in history
- He criticises the federal government for overreaching and violating the principles of federalism
- He argues that the Constitution should be rewritten to address modern political dysfunction
- Shapiro opposes those who want to destroy the Constitution, arguing that limits on government power are crucial
Ben Shapiro supports amending the Constitution to save its principles
Ben Shapiro, an American conservative political commentator, media proprietor, and attorney, has argued that the US Constitution needs to be amended to save its principles. He believes that the Constitution is a sacred document that has provided the framework for a powerful, successful, and free nation. However, he also acknowledges that Americans have not always lived up to its promises, and there is a constant battle to fulfill those promises.
Shapiro points out that the Founding Fathers designed a system of checks and balances to limit federal government power and ensure localism in governance. However, over time, these checks and balances have been eroded. The federal government has usurped state power, and the executive branch has taken more power than the Founders intended. Shapiro argues that this has resulted in a bloated, corrupt, reckless, and invasive federal government that regulates the minute details of Americans' everyday lives.
To address these issues, Shapiro supports calling an Article V Convention of States. This process, authorized by Article V of the US Constitution, allows state legislatures to propose amendments to the Constitution without the consent of the federal government. The amendments would aim to restore the founding principle of a limited federal government, impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and impose term limits on its officials and members of Congress.
Shapiro's support for amending the Constitution to save its principles aligns with his belief in constitutional conservatism. He has criticized those who seek to destroy the Constitution or view it as a barrier to progress. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of limits in governance and the need to hold politicians accountable to the original constitutional structure.
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He believes that the Constitution is the greatest founding governmental document in history
Ben Shapiro, a conservative political commentator, believes that the US Constitution is the greatest founding governmental document in history. He has written extensively on the topic, including a piece titled "An Introduction to the U.S. Constitution." In this work, Shapiro highlights the significance of the Constitution as a framework for a powerful, successful, and free nation. According to Shapiro, the Constitution's principles are eternal and true, and the system of government derived from them is exceptionally durable.
Shapiro attributes the success of the US Constitution to several key factors. Firstly, he emphasizes the importance of federalism and the founders' intention to work within its framework. They understood that while Americans shared common national interests, localism provided a more immediate and effective method of governance. This is reflected in the constitutional structure, which includes concepts such as rights, delegated powers, checks and balances, and federalism.
The history of the Constitution, according to Shapiro, began with the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This declaration established the fundamental purpose of the government: to protect the God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all individuals, regardless of their background. The actual drafting of the Constitution took place in 1787 in Philadelphia, with the final version presented for signing on September 17 of that year. The ratification process was lengthy and challenging, but it ultimately led to the creation of America's masterwork in political writing, The Federalist Papers, authored by Hamilton and Madison.
While Shapiro holds the Constitution in high regard, he also acknowledges that it is not perfect and may require amendments to save its underlying principles. He argues that the original intent of the Founders has been eroded over time, particularly in terms of the balance of power between the federal government and the state legislatures. To address this, Shapiro supports calling an Article V Convention of States, which can propose constitutional amendments that restore the principle of a limited federal government and impose fiscal restraints on its power.
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He criticises the federal government for overreaching and violating the principles of federalism
Ben Shapiro, an American conservative political commentator, has been vocal about his belief that the federal government has overreached its authority and violated the principles of federalism as outlined in the US Constitution. He argues that the federal government has become increasingly "bloated, corrupt, reckless and invasive," infringing on areas that should be left to state governments to decide.
Shapiro's criticism stems from his interpretation of the Constitution's original intent. He believes that the Founding Fathers intended for the federal government to have limited power, with a system of checks and balances in place to prevent federal dominance. According to Shapiro, the federal government has gradually eroded these checks and balances, particularly over the last 100 years, consolidating power and encroaching on areas that should be under state jurisdiction.
One example Shapiro points to is the expansion of the federal bureaucracy. He argues that Congress and the Supreme Court have empowered a fourth branch of government—the federal bureaucracy—to make laws and create policies without accountability. This expansion of bureaucratic power, in Shapiro's view, undermines the Founding Fathers' vision of a limited federal government and infringes on states' rights and autonomy.
Furthermore, Shapiro criticizes the executive branch for taking on more power than the Founders intended. He believes that presidents have "silently rewritten" the Constitution to justify their actions, claiming authority from the original text while avoiding the political fallout that would come from formally proposing and ratifying constitutional amendments. This, in Shapiro's view, is a violation of the principles of federalism and a threat to individual liberties.
To address these concerns, Shapiro supports calling an Article V Convention of States, which would allow state legislatures to propose amendments to the Constitution without the consent of the federal government. He believes that this process can restore the founding principle of a limited federal government and rein in what he sees as the overreach of the federal bureaucracy and the executive branch.
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He argues that the Constitution should be rewritten to address modern political dysfunction
Ben Shapiro, an American conservative political commentator, media proprietor, and attorney, has argued that the US Constitution should be rewritten to address modern political dysfunction. He believes that the Constitution is a sacred document that has provided the framework for a powerful, successful, and free nation. However, he also acknowledges that Americans have not always lived up to the promises of the Constitution, and that there is a constant battle to fulfill those promises.
Shapiro points out that the Constitution needs to be amended to preserve the principles enshrined within it. He highlights how the checks and balances intended to limit the federal government have been eroded over time, especially in the last 100 years. The executive branch, the courts, and the legislature have accumulated excessive power, undermining the ability of state legislatures to check their actions. To address this, Shapiro calls for an Article V Convention of States, which can propose constitutional amendments to restore the founding principle of a limited federal government.
Shapiro's argument aligns with the belief that the Constitution should be periodically amended to ensure successful governance. The Founding Fathers recognized the need for change and welcomed the idea of constitutional amendments, understanding that successful government would require adjustments over time. However, modern politicians have often ignored this call for explicit amendments, instead silently rewriting the Constitution to suit their own ideas about government.
Shapiro warns against dispensing with the Constitution, as doing so could lead to drastic change that resembles tyranny rather than progress. He emphasizes the importance of limits in governance and the role of the Constitution in setting boundaries on the powers of the federal government. Without these limits, transformational change can occur, disregarding the history of human relations and the diverse viewpoints of the governed.
While Shapiro acknowledges the need for change, he also emphasizes the enduring relevance of the Constitution's central principles, including negative rights, delegated powers, checks and balances, and federalism. These principles, he believes, provide a durable foundation for governance and protect the rights to life, liberty, and property.
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Shapiro opposes those who want to destroy the Constitution, arguing that limits on government power are crucial
Ben Shapiro, a prominent conservative commentator and graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, has been an outspoken defender of the US Constitution. Shapiro has argued that the Constitution is under threat from those who seek to dispense with its limits on government power, which he sees as crucial for preventing tyranny and preserving the principles of limited federal government.
In his writings, Shapiro has criticised those on the left who call for the end of the Constitution, such as Ryan Doerfler and Samuel Moyn, who wrote an op-ed in The New York Times arguing that constitutionalism stymies progress. Shapiro contends that removing the Constitution's checks on government power would lead to transformational change that disregards the history of human relations. He believes that a federal government with unfettered power is unlikely to rule benevolently or successfully over a diverse population with varying viewpoints and ways of life.
Shapiro agrees with Thomas Jefferson's suggestion that the Constitution should be updated periodically to remain accountable to the people. However, he argues that modern politicians have silently rewritten it without explicit amendments, leading to a disconnect from the original constitutional structure. He attributes this to the judiciary's interpretive power, where judges "read things into the Constitution" instead of properly interpreting it, exacerbating cultural divisions in the country.
Shapiro supports a Convention of States, a movement to propose amendments under Article V of the US Constitution. These amendments aim to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and introduce term limits for officials and members of Congress. By restoring the founding principle of limited federal government, Shapiro believes that the Constitution can be saved from those who seek to destroy it.
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Frequently asked questions
Ben Shapiro believes that the US Constitution is the ''single greatest founding governmental document in the history of the world''. He also believes that the Constitution needs to be amended in order to save the principles enshrined in it.
Shapiro agrees with the Founding Fathers' intentions for the Constitution to be amended periodically. He supports their vision of a limited federal government, with a system of checks and balances, and the power of state legislatures to act as a final check on abuses of power by Washington, DC.
Ben Shapiro disagrees with calls to destroy the Constitution, arguing that dispensing with it would lead to tyranny and a disregard for the history of human relations. He believes that the Constitution is essential for maintaining limits on the powers of the federal government and preventing mob majoritarianism.
