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| Authors | Thomas Jefferson, James Madison |
|---|---|
| Publication | 1789 |
| Preceded by | Articles of Confederation |
The current Constitution of the United States was adopted on March 4, 1789, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It increased the centralized power of the state and created a national army to fight against indigenous nations, slave rebellions, and the working class. The Constitution legalized slavery and required runaway slaves to be returned to their owners.[1] Both writers of the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, owned slaves.[2]
The three-fifths clause of the Constitution partially counted slaves to determine seats in Congress. Since these slaves could not vote, the clause overrepresented the votes of southern slave owners and led to the creation of the Virginia dynasty.[3]
Out of over 11,000 attempts to amend the Constitution, only 27 have succeeded. Amendments need a two-thirds vote from both houses of Congress and approval from three-quarters of the states.[4]
Amendments[edit | edit source]
- Right to "free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly," and "freedom to petition the government."
- Right to bear arms (gun ownership)
- Right to refuse soldiers to reside in your private household
- Prohibition of unreasonable search and seizures
- Right to not have to speak certain information at trial
- Right to a fair and speedy trial
- Right to a "jury of peers"
- Prohibition of unreasonable fines and "cruel or unusual punishment" (the death penalty, however, is still legal federally)
- State governments cannot impede on individual rights
- Any power not specifically given to the federal government by the constitution belongs to state governments
- State governments are immune to lawsuits from citizens from out of state
- Establishes the position of vice president as chosen by the president rather than given to the runner-up in the election
- Abolition of slavery (notably, except as a punishment for a crime, a loophole used liberally)
- Citizenship is to be granted to anyone born or naturalized in the USA
- Prohibition of voting discrimination based on race
- Gives the federal government the right to levy income taxes on any sources
- Establishes the position of senator as a position to be voted on by citizens
- Prohibition of the making or sale of alcohol (repealed by the 21st amendment)
- Prohibition of voting discrimination based on gender assigned at birth
- Clarifies the date on which presidency begins (January 20th) and ends (January 3rd) alongside establishing the promotion of the vice president to president if the currently acting president dies or is otherwise unable to serve
- Repeal of the earlier 18th amendment
- Limits the amount of terms a president can be elected to 2
- Grants Washington DC electors in the Electoral College
- Prohibition of the denial to vote based on failure to pay poll taxes
- Establishes a full line of succession for the office of the president
- Voting age lowered to 18
- Delays laws that change congressional pay from taking effect until the next election of representatives[5]
See also[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Crystal Kim (2022-10-19). "Of, by, and for the elite: The class character of the U.S. Constitution" Liberation School. Archived from the original on 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
- ↑ Domenico Losurdo (2011). Liberalism: A Counter-History: 'What Is Liberalism?' (p. 12). [PDF] Verso. ISBN 9781844676934 [LG]
- ↑ Domenico Losurdo (2011). Liberalism: A Counter-History: 'Were Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century England and America Liberal?' (p. 96). [PDF] Verso. ISBN 9781844676934 [LG]
- ↑ Chad Pearson (2023-07-12). "Sober Up Liberals: The U.S. Constitution Sucks" MR Online. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12.
- ↑ "The Amendments". Constitution Center.