i know that because the constitution grows officially and it has to do something about the amendment process, informal process and all that stuff. Please help?? that's an essay question for my government test tomm haha.
2006-09-10 16:48:38 · 7 answers · asked by Rawwwr 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
It is a living document because much of the language in it is very broad, abstract, and simple. Also, the architects made amendments allowable. The reason for this is: culture and values change over time. With these changes, our constitution needs to adapt to fit the views of the people. Even the definitions of words can change over time. So, the Constitution's language was made abstract so that it can still address issues without running into too much trouble. Also, our founding fathers knew that unexpected events were going to occur, and new technology would complicate the role of government in society. If the Constitution was set in stone, with very specific language, and not amendable, the government would have difficulty making policies about issues like civil rights. In this way, it is living and it grows with the changing trends of U.S. culture. Probably the best example of how it is "living" is to look at how the judicial system has interpreted the Constitution differently through history.
2006-09-10 17:18:12 · answer #1 · answered by Matthias G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it has been changed and it has been interrupted in a different way over time. For example, African Americans were considered 3/4 a person for official purposes in the original Constitution. But, following the Civil War that ended in 1865 was ratification in 1870 of The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. It is called the Civil Rights Amendment which gave all citizens the right to vote and more.
2006-09-10 17:14:23 · answer #2 · answered by zclifton2 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A living organism is defined currently as a carbon based life form that can replicate and respond to it's environment. The American federal Constitution is not this. It is however, an organic document for a number of reasons. It inculcates the fundamental values of the Republic as based upon the philosophical tenets of Natural Law and Natural Rights; that is to say, those freedoms that are innate and inhering in every man and woman. Also, the "living document" aspect stems from the inent of the founders of the Republic and the Constitution in establishing a system by which it can and has been changed to meet the needs of the prevailing culture. Dually, it is not easy to effect such change, indicating that the document is also to be referred to by the organic humanoids (all of us) who inhabit those lands which it covers.
2006-09-11 08:42:24 · answer #3 · answered by William P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Want to get an "A" on your exam? Here's the scoop. When the Consitution was ratified in 1788 cloning, stem cell research and live nude dancing did not exists as they do today. The founding fathers wrote the consitution in broad and flexible terms to fit a changing world. The Consitution grows with us as our experience continually develops our national conscience. This is why our nation has gone from the Dred Scott decision in 1857 where the Supreme Court declared that African-American could never become citizens to Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 where the doctrine of "seperate but equal" schools for black children was struck down and schools were ordered to integrate.
2006-09-10 21:25:34 · answer #4 · answered by seantherunner 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the constitution is a living document. i don't know if i would call it an organism. it is living and it continues to evolve by way of amendments. it's own evolution has saved it from becoming obsolete, therefore the ability to amend our (US) constitution to meet the changing needs of society has indeed made it a living, breathing, and growing document.
2006-09-10 16:58:55 · answer #5 · answered by ŧťŠ4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a "living organism" because certain clauses are quite vague and people who interpret them end up substituting their own values for what was originally intended. Thus a clause ends up becoming something brand new which wasn't at all intended.
2006-09-10 17:06:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is not a living document it says what it means and means what it says it doesnt change with the times only by amendment when reading the constituion one should look to the thinking of the fathers and read their writings to see what they meant
2006-09-10 16:59:31 · answer #7 · answered by burkstep55 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋