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Evaluate the democratic nature of the original and current Constitution with its amendments.

what does that mean? i don't really understand what its asking me to do...

2006-12-10 02:55:28 · 8 answers · asked by yellow 4 in Education & Reference Homework Help

8 answers

analyze the constitution and the amendements and try to take apart every single word or sentence that sound democratic to you, then talk about them for a while

2006-12-10 02:59:44 · answer #1 · answered by DonGiovanni 3 · 0 0

The original Constitution (i.e., just the body outlining the powers of the three branches of government) was adopted without the Bill of Right (Amendments 1 - 10, added later). These were added to delineate individual/state rights which were not addressed in the body of the Constitution. Without these articles added, some states would not have ratified the Constitution because it only defined the authority of the federal government without also protecting individual or state rights. I understand that some agreed to ratify it on the condition that the Bill of Rights would be added later.

See also http://www.constitution.org

I would say the original Constitution successfully separated the three branches of government so there is a check and balance between them. And the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments served to protect equal rights of individual citizens in relation to the government, in order to provide a balance there.
For examples, besides Amendmets 1-10, please see especially the 14th Amendment extending the standard of "equal protection under law" to states, and also Amendments 15 and 19 on suffrage which gave blacks and then women the right to vote.

See also:
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/amendments.htm

Bill of Rights
Amendment 1 Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly
Amendment 2 Right to bear arms
Amendment 3 Quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4 Search and arrest
Amendment 5 Rights in criminal cases
Amendment 6 Right to a fair trial
Amendment 7 Rights in civil cases
Amendment 8 bail, fines, punishment
Amendment 9 Rights retained by the People
Amendment 10 States' rights

Later Amendments
Amendment 11 Lawsuits against states
Amendment 12 Presidential elections
Amendment 13 Abolition of slavery
Amendment 14 Civil rights
Amendment 15 Black suffrage
Amendment 16 Income taxes
Amendment 17 Senatorial elections
Amendment 18 Prohibition of liquor
Amendment 19 Women's suffrage
Amendment 20 Terms of office
Amendment 21 Repeal of Prohibition
Amendment 22 Term Limits for the Presidency
Amendment 23 Washington, D.C., suffrage
Amendment 24 Abolition of poll taxes
Amendment 25 Presidential succession
Amendment 26 18-year-old suffrage
Amendment 27 Congressional pay raises

2006-12-10 11:04:22 · answer #2 · answered by emilynghiem 5 · 1 0

First look at the original Constitution - just the articles without the Bill of Rightsetc. since those are the amendments. Evaluate its democratic nature - I take that to mean you decide how democratic it is. Look at the way in which leaders are chosen and how poewr is disributed by the constitution. Is it democratic? Now look at the Constittuion with all of its amendments (changes). Is it more or less democratic? How did it change?

I hope this helps.

2006-12-10 11:02:34 · answer #3 · answered by baldisbeautiful 5 · 1 0

In it's basic sense I think it means take a look at how limited or small the original Constitution was. It was a great work of art and legal procedures etc.. However today's constitution with the amendments makes our rights and privileges more clear and understandable keeping up with current technologies.

Hope that gives you an idea to begin with.

2006-12-10 11:02:07 · answer #4 · answered by Any Key! Push Me 7 · 1 0

Look into whether America has become more or less democratic over our history based on the amendments to the Constitution. In your opinion would the founding fathers have put some of the amendments in the constitution or left it to the people to decide? Has government become too involved in the lives of the people?

2006-12-10 11:05:24 · answer #5 · answered by Brian G 2 · 1 0

Check out the Constitution and basically 'decode' or interpret it in your own words. Then give like a one sentence summary on what it's saying.

2006-12-10 14:21:16 · answer #6 · answered by Hannah 3 · 0 0

I think that Listendontjusthear gave you the best answer so far! (sorry, I can't rate answers yet)

2006-12-10 11:08:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I also didn't understand

2006-12-10 10:59:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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