Has the Constitution become more democratic since its initial ratification in 1789?

Question

It is not unusual to hear the argument that the Constitution has been made much more democratic since its initial ratification in 1789. What evidence would you point to that indicates that the Constitution has become more democratic, say in the last 100 years? Are there key ways in which the Constitution continues not to be democratic?

Answer 1

The interpretation of it has become more democratic.

Examples, civil rights, equal rights, woman's right to privacy (abortion), etc...

Answer 2

Constitution Ratified In 1789

Answer 3

No. The Constitution (as implemented) has become less democratic, except for election of Senators.

Senators originally were elected by state legislatures, and were the direct representatives of the states. That changed in 1913 by the 17th Amendment, so that Senators were chosen by the population of the states.

But election of the President has become more abstracted, especially with the way the electoral college is implemented. Per the 12th Amendment, if the electoral college does not result in an absolute majority for one candidate, the House (voting per state) shall select the President from among the top three winners.

So, even if one candidate had 49%, and the next two highest had 10% each, the House picks who wins equally from the three.

And that doesn't even address the fact that the electoral college (as implemented by the state) forces us effectively into a two-party system, which is not democratic at all.

Answer 4

It is difficult to come up with a sensible answer to this without a long discussion of what you mean by "democratic". In a sense, the Constitution must not become too democratic: one of its purposes is to protect the rights of minorities against possible depredations from majorities. A case can be made that it has not been entirely successful in this, but it is a judgment call and opinions can reasonably differ.

Answer 5

A very obvious example would be the amendments which abolish slavery,grant women the right to vote and the elimination of the poll tax. All of these increase democracy by guaranteeing certain rights and characteristics of citizenship to more people.

For that matter, the Bill of Rights added measures to ensure the freedoms of a democracy that were not clearly enumerated in the intial Constitution.

An example of the opposite effect would be the Prohibition amendment which denied all citizens the right to use, manufacture, possess or sell beverage alcohol. The amendment repealing Prohibition could be said to make the document more democratic by restoring that right.

Answer 6

roflmao . what you call a constiution is nothing more than a worthless and utterly useless peice of parchment. it has no meaning and no value with our current government. the constitution, as had been "modified" through laws passed by congress....gurantees you absolutely no rights. you are a cow to the salughterhouse of usa's elite. so quit mooing, get in line, and wait your turn!