The Constitutional Structure of a Limited Government

"Our Ageless Constitution" ^ | 1987 & 2008 | Stedman/Lewis

[loveliberty2]

The Constitution of the United States was intended by its Framers to make "We, the People" the only masters of the government structured by its provisions.

Today's generations have not been taught the intricate ways by which the Framers structured the government in order to fulfill the stated goals of its Preamble.

This essay is one of many in the volume, "Our Ageless Constitution," which explains an underlying idea or principle of the Constitution that, itself, carried out the philosophy of the Declaration of Independence.

If citizens better understood the constitutional power they hold, perhaps they would begin to do what Jefferson suggested: "bind them [elected representatives] down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."

For more information about other principles underlying our liberty, see

[the invisib1e hand]

The Constitution was devised with an ingenious and intricate built-in system of checks and balances to guard the people's liberty against combinations of government power.

It even worked for a while...

I think the real genius is that the Constitution was designed to use competing interests to keep power in check, very much like a market economy.

[loveliberty2]

". . . the Constitution was designed to use competing interests to keep power in check, very much like a market economy."

Wise observation. And, isn't it interesting that Adam Smith, the great moral philosopher turned economic theorist, wrote his great treatise on "The Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations" within the same time period as our own Declaration of Independence?

It seems that was by no coincidence that his ideas of the workings of a market system in a free society took hold in this most free place on earth!

His ideas represent the economic dimension of freedom.

[Rio]

Should the EXECUTIVE and LEGISLATIVE powers be united... the EXECUTIVE power would make itself absolu te, and the government end in tyranny.

IMO, this is the great threat that we are now facing. 2010 elections should prove quite interesting.

[ronnie raygun]

With all this to strive for and accomplish we MUST NOT allow those who have broken the law and bastardized thier oath of office to remain free.

[rigelkentaurus]

and one of the key reasons this country has broken down is one of the key checks was removed by progressives (marxists) in 1913 - the 17th amendment. By removing the State’s from controlling the Senate, the Senate became the same as the House except with longer terms in office. Without that check, the balance completely moved to the Federal government and facilitated unchecked growth. The 9th and 10th amendments became in effect, null and voided by the 17th.

[trek]

and one of the key reasons this country has broken down is one of the key checks was removed by progressives (marxists) in 1913 - the 17th amendment. By removing the State’s from controlling the Senate, the Senate became the same as the House except with longer terms in office. Without that check, the balance completely moved to the Federal government and facilitated unchecked growth. The 9th and 10th amendments became in effect, null and voided by the 17th.

Bingo!

Somebody finally got it. The Constitution was never intended to operate in a vacuum. It was designed to operate in the context of a union of sovereign states. The reason the Federal government is out of control is rooted in the destruction of the independence of the states.

So for those of you expecting the Constitution to save us, call me after the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th amendments have been repealed. Until then, the Federal government will reign unchecked whether it is controlled by Democrat gangsters or Republican gangsters. Surely recent history has taught us that.

[Huck]

The Constitution was devised with an ingenious and intricate built-in system of checks and balances to guard the people's liberty against combinations of government power.

LOL. What a crock. I'm with Patrick Henry on this one:

But now, Sir, the American spirit, assisted by the ropes and chains of consolidation, is about to convert this country to a powerful and mighty empire: If you make the citizens of this country agree to become the subjects of one great consolidated empire of America, your Government will not have sufficient energy to keep them together: Such a Government is incompatible with the genius of republicanism: There will be no checks, no real balances, in this Government: What can avail your specious imaginary balances, your rope-dancing, chain-rattling, ridiculous ideal checks and contrivances?

200+ years have proven the so-called checks and balances to be worthless at preserving liberty. The national government has expanded its power steadily and consistently, with no end in sight. All 3 branches have collaborated on this.

The creation of a national consolidated government was an awful mistake.

[Huck]

The Constitution was never intended to operate in a vacuum. It was designed to operate in the context of a union of sovereign states. The reason the Federal government is out of control is rooted in the destruction of the independence of the states.

The Constitution is the REASON for the destruction of the independence of the states.

[trek]

"The Constitution is the REASON for the destruction of the independence of the states. "

"I feel your pain." (To coin a phrase)

But will respectfully disagree. Constitutionally limited government worked, at least for a while. And it can be made to work again. Maybe not in our lifetime, but someday. After all, it took a war to destroy it.

[Man50D]

It is the PEOPLE who have final check on both LEGISLATIVE and EX­ECUTIVE when they vote on their Representatives every 2 years, their Senators every 6 years, and their President every 4 years. Through those selections, they also influence the potential makeup of the JUDICIARY.

The people have another check against the legislative, executive and judicial branches. The people have the power of the grand jury. The grand jury is not mentioned in the body of the Constitution but is mentioned in the 5th Amendment of the Bill of Rights. This was done purposely by our founding fathers to give the power of the grand jury only to the people and not to any of the three branches of government. It is with this power the people can server Presentments listing charges against those the people choose to charge.

This has been done as a grand jury has charged Bo and Pelosi with Treason, fraud and voter fraud. Presentments have been served in several states with more to be served. Visit www.americangrandjury.org for more information.

[HighlyOpinionated]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt1fYSAChxs

President Reagan well spoken and as timely as ever.

I mean VERY timely.

[Jacquerie]

Thanks. “Our Ageless Constitution” will be my God-Daughter’s Christmas gift.

[Loud Mime]

ping

[Loud Mime]

I have written exactly the same thing many times!

The 17th Amendment enabled our current acts of tyranny.

[Loud Mime]

The Constitution is the REASON for the destruction of the independence of the states

That is the same logic that gun control advocates use to disarm us. Guns are the reason for all these crimes, not the people!

It is not so much what you have, but how you use or abuse it. Any form of government would have succumbed to the abuses waged by today's liberal faction. It is not the Constitution's fault....it is ours.

[PjhCPA]

Good stuff. Thanks for the ping.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Thanks for the link.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“The 17th Amendment enabled our current acts of tyranny.”

And the bastards needed a “dumbed down” population to tolerate the tyranny, and the NEA took care of that over the last 40 years.

[wastedyears]

The Constitution is the REASON for the destruction of the independence of the states.

WTF are you talking about?