Is The Constitution Relevant Today?

Michael S. Greco, President of the American Bar Association said, “In an age of cell phone cameras, hand held computers and instant messaging, technologies that make last year seem like last century, why should we still care about a document written on parchment with ink drawn from a feather quill?” Perhaps the correct answer should be, we are a free people because of the Constitution. When people don’t understand or they don’t value their Constitutional rights, then it’s easy for others to take those rights away.

Today’s Constitutional interpretation seems to fall into one of two categories, by broad ruling or based on original intent, depending upon judicial appointments or the views of the sitting administration. Open discussion has taken place claiming that the founding fathers and writers of the Constitution could never have seen the challenges facing the people of today. In their argument, they decry that the document needs to be replaced or at the least revised. Opponents of such thought, those supporting the original intent belief, argue that built into the Constitution are measures that allow adaptation and growth. Over its history 27 of the measures, known as amendments, have been adopted, with one even having been repealed. This, they argue, proves the Constitution is adaptable to today’s society.

Written into the Constitution are guidelines such as separation of powers, the powers and limitations of the federal government, the rights and powers of the states and the delegation and authority of the general population. The mere fact that a debate as to if the Constitution is relevant, establishes its verity. Few other governments have been as successful in having written guidelines for their laws.