The Process of Forming a Government - Essay Example

American Government of Since the origin of civilization, the impulse to form governments has been witnessed in people all over the world. However, the process of forming a government is an experiment that takes many years or even centuries to be precise, and is marked by violent revolutions at times. This paper seeks to address several fundamental questions about the system of government in America. It shall also address the revolutionary notions behind its establishment, the purpose, the form and whether the government system is too big for America to handle. The Reasoning behind the Revolutionary War The origins of the philosophies and theories underlying the American Revolution date back across centuries. Several generations of political philosophy, scientific empiricism, and intellectual theory culminated in the Revolutionary War that sought the transformation of these abstract ideas into reality for a new society (Fiske, 2012). Antiquity and England itself were the principal inspirations for the ideas about independence, liberty, and the form envisioned by the Founders for their new government. Republicanism derived from several inspirations, notably the ancient Greek and Rome societies where all citizens (except slaves, who were not accorded citizenship) subordinated their private interests voluntarily to the common good. The republics predicated their authority and stability based on citizenry and their resistance to tyranny and corruption. For republicans in the eighteenth century, a person with virtue had a high sense of morality, owned property, and was ready to subordinate his or her interests for the sake of the community (Fiske, 2012). Such are the kind of people Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers thought capable of freedom. Intent of the Framers of the Constitution and the Thinking around the Bill of Rights The Constitution Framers were visionaries. They designed the Constitution to last. They sought both to address the challenges facing America during their lifetimes and to establish foundational principles that would guide and sustain the new nation into a future that was uncertain (Levy, 2000). Their vision is reflected in the wording of the Constitution. The document defines the fundamental freedoms of Americans in general terms: “due process of law,” “freedom of speech,” “equal protection of laws,” “free exercise of religion,” “cruel and unusual punishment” among others. It also sets forth the powers of the government in general terms: the President will ensure that laws are faithfully executed, Congress may regulate commerce in several states, the courts have authority to decide on cases and controversies. Most of the phrases in the Constitution are not self-defining. Its Framers understood that they entrusted future generations with the task of drawing upon their experience, judgment, and intelligence to give concrete meanings to the broad principles over time. Chief Justice John Marshall once observed that Americans must never forget the Constitution is a document to be expounded and that it was intended to last for ages to come thereby adapting to the myriads of crises of human affairs (Levy, 2000). The Constitution’s first ten Amendments are popularly known as the Bill of Rights. They were introduced to Congress in 1789. Their purpose is to protect Americans’ rights to property, natural rights as human beings, and restrict the government’s power over citizens. The Amendments originally placed in the Constitution were ratified through state voting in 1791. The ratification was an important process as it illustrated the Founders’ vision for the Constitution – to make the provisions amendable while requiring sufficient time for the process to make the correct choices regarding citizenship. Simply stated, the ten amendments are: Freedom of religion, speech, press, and so on Right to keep and carry arms The conditions soldier quartering Right of search and seizure Prosecution of an individual Right to a faster trial Right to trial by jury Provision against cruel punishment before trial and excessive bail Rule of constructing the constitution, and The rights of states Forms of Government Ginsberg and Ansolabehere discuss several forms of government in their thirteenth edition of American Government Power and Purpose. Democracy is a system where people freely elect their leaders. Monarchy, on the other hand, is a system where one individual, having inherited the power position, holds it for life and passes it on to a son, daughter or closest relative. A republic is a system where the head of government is a president who has been elected. Sometimes, the president could also be the head of state. Totalitarianism refers to the system in which the government absolutely controls all aspects of its people’s lives. Fascism, on the other hand, is a government headed by a dictator in most cases and involves total control by the government of political, economic, religious, cultural and social activities. Dictatorship is the system where one person (the dictator) has absolute power. Communism refers to the economic system with no private ownership – the community holds property rather than individuals. Lastly, oligarchy refers to the system where a few rich people hold power (Ginsberg et al., 2013). The American system is an uneasy hybrid of republicanism and democracy (Vibert, 2007). One result of America’s long-term success is the redefinition of terms so that the present-day democracy meaning has shades of republicanism. The two systems should not be seen as opposing. However, the question of whether America is a democracy or not has pushed many social movements to agitate for reforms in the electoral system, to ensure press freedom, and to demand accountability on the part of elected officials. Seemingly, therefore, America is not a true democracy. The people are normally the government in true democracies. Today, however, Americans elect leaders to run the government for them. These leaders in turn do not serve people’s interests but their interests. Americans are led to believe that they must put their trust in the elected leaders. Americans have no power to make laws in their interest, causing a power imbalance in the government. Interestingly, the powerful elites do argue that the people have no proper qualifications to be trusted with law making. Americans should look back a hundred years and see how the law making process in the twenty-four states was a people’s initiative. Robert Reich’s Inequality for All The film paints the real picture that America is losing its dream of equal opportunity. Most of the laws and regulations have been altered to suit the rich at the expense of the other 99% of Americans. The current generation is experiencing what the fore-fathers of 1900 experienced (monopolies, trusts and so on), and which took the government’s initiative to fix. Strong leadership is necessary. Senators who stay in office for more than two terms should be removed. The gambling mentality should stop in all states. Americans need to squeeze money out of the government and the election process. The current state of things is not what the Founders envisioned. There is the need to elect leaders who can clean the mess to realize these changes. Taxes should be raised; stock buybacks should be eliminated; the minimum wage should be raised to $15 per hour; and many other reforms. Until Americans come out in large numbers to demand these things, they will not be different from the Russian serfs who took complains of inequality to Czars for four hundred years with no positive outcome at all, leading to deaths of many generations up to the First World war. Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center Regardless of the claims lodged by the 9/11 Truth Movement, Stone’s efforts in this film are worthwhile. The 9/11 was a horrible crime, to be sincere. Stone’s film brings out the truth about this in a clear and necessary way. It is necessary because such an attack can occur once more and may be more severe. There are people who want to manipulate Americans and the Congress through fear and violence, through attacking people’s liberties, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Revisiting and clearly understanding the 9/11 events is necessary. Looking back to the fateful day is quite helpful. The large numbers of military deaths and injuries, new laws and policies that affect fundamental elements of America’s democracy, and several other developments are part of the broader picture. The courage and dedication depicted in the film are part of the things to remember. These qualities are essential for protecting and strengthening America’s future. Conclusion The Revolutionary War marked the beginning of America’s future. Through the efforts of the Founders, America has waded through murky waters until where it is now. The form of government, though not clearly describable, is one of the best in the world. Peace and stability have been witnessed for centuries, and the future is promising. However, the efforts of enemies aimed at derailing the good tides in America should not be given room to mature. America’s leadership should maintain a strong stance against terror and tighten regulations on security issues. Fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution cannot be enjoyed without top-notch security. Internally, America has several issues to settle. It is open to everybody that democracy is at risk in America. The people are losing power to the leaders whom they elect. Essentially, this loss of power means loss of the fundamental freedoms in the Constitution. Equality should take priority, and all Americans should live decent lives. The government should fix loopholes that make life hard for Americans. These include repealing oppressive laws and regulations such as those on taxes and wages. The Founders had a vision for America. The current leaders should keep on track to take that vision to maturity. References Fiske, J. (2012). The American Revolution. New York: The Riverside Press Levy, L. W. (2000). Original Intent and the Framers Constitution. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Lowi, T., Ginsberg, B., Shepsele, K. A., and Ansolabehere, S. (2013). American Government: Power and Purpose. New York: Norton and Company, Inc. Vibert, F. (2007). The Rise of the Unelected: Democracy and the New Separation of Powers. New York: Cambridge University Press Read More