[HiTech RedNeck]

The law matters as much as the politicians let it matter.

[Publius]

The intent of the Constitution, as Madison pointed out many times in the Federalist Papers, is to concentrate sovereignty in the people. The people's representatives write the law, the executive enforces it, and the courts interpret it.

In the end, it's up to the people to enforce their beliefs by electing representatives who reflect them. The problem is that the people either aren't paying attention, or are in fact electing people who do reflect those beliefs.