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Earlier threads:

"The Federal Government is the creature of the States. It is not a party to the Constitution, but the result of it the creation of that agreement which was made by the States as parties. It is a mere agent, entrusted with limited powers for certain specific objects; which powers and objects are enumerated in the Constitution. Shall the agent be permitted to judge the extent of its own powers, without reference to his constituent? To a certain extent, he is compelled to do this, in the very act of exercising them, but always in subordination to the authority by whom his powers were conferred. If this were not so, the result would be, that the agent would possess every power which the agent could confer, notwithstanding the plainest and most express terms of the grant. This would be against all principle and all reason. If such a rule would prevail in regard to government, a written constitution would be the idlest thing imaginable. It would afford no barrier against the usurpations of the government, and no security for the rights and liberties of the people. If then the Federal Government has no authority to judge, in the last resort, of the extent of its own powers, with what propriety can it be said that a single department of that government may do so? Nay. It is said that this department may not only judge for itself, but for the other departments also. This is an absurdity as pernicious as it is gross and palpable. If the judiciary may determine the powers of the Federal Government, it may pronounce them either less or more than they really are. "

Abel Upshur Secretary of the Navy 1841-43

If I worked for a month I could not say it any better than that!

Our Constitution was, and is a radical departure from the existing forms of foreign governments. However, it was not a radical departure from the American experience.

From 1607 onward, the distant British colonies were forced to organize themselves into largely self governing entities for the sake of defense against French and Indian depredations and for commerce. Left to govern themselves during the English Civil War in a near Lochean state of nature, colonial and municipal governments developed varying modes of legislative, executive and judicial departments.

Upon revolt from Britain the states were more than ready to formally adopt freedom loving and government limiting constitutions. As Madison outlines, their structures were remarkably similar.

Our Constitution was therefore not a flash in the pan, nor a passing whimsy. What Montesquieu theorized was already well underway across the Atlantic.

No, our Constitution was and is a uniquely AMERICAN form of government, developed over 180 years, rooted in Natural Law and suitable only for a virtuous people jealous to defend their God given rights.

Thanks.