Voice Of Democracy Speech, Beth Thomas How Is A 200 Year Old Document Still Relevant?

In a world where it seems there is always a new report of the government violating the Constitution, its relevance is often questioned. When you look up the Constitution, its hard not to see the articles with headlines about the president waging war without Congress consent, Obamacare, and even claims of the government spying on civilians. But, the truth is, the Constitution is and always will be, relevant. Over 200 years ago, the Constitution was created to outline our government. It told of the Executive branch, which includes the president, the Legislative branch, which is our Congress, and the Judicial branch, composed of all the courts of the land, but mainly, the Supreme Court. Each branch has its own job, and whether it writes, interprets, or carries out the laws, each is crucial in running our great country. Also, each branch can never become to powerful, due to the checks and balances put in place for each branch to keep the other two in check. As you can see, out forefathers created a well planned and thought out guide for our government. Its ability to sustain and unite us is unlike any other document in the history of the world. It has kept us together, all in one democratic nation. So, unlike the doubts about our governments following the Constitution that are blasted on the Internet, this document is timeless and will never go unneeded. The Constitutions absolute ability to remain practical in any era is shown in several quotes from Thomas Jeffersons letter to Samuel Kercheval. In one such statement, Jefferson claims that, Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the arc of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. But, he goes on to state that our Constitution is quite the opposite. He says, But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. Jefferson Knew that our Constitution would change as our ideas and opinions do. Such changes in ideas are proven by the 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights and the seventeen other amendments added later on. As our ideas about women, African Americans, and other minority groups progress, we continue to make new laws that openly state our support for these groups and their rights to vote, own property and do anything we previously thought only white men could do. Also, if any of the amendments is no longer deemed applicable to the way we live, we can add another that is more current. This is proven in the 18 t h and 21 s t amendments,

which are the amendments bringing about Prohibition, then taking it away. When the nation asks, Is our Constitution still relevant?, the answer lies in the words we cant forget, the words that began it all. We the people, our forefathers wrote with pride, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. So as you ponder this question, as I have, we all need to think of those who insure our domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, and secure the blessings if liberty. The Constitution will forever be relevant to those who have answered the ultimate call to protect the rights of We the people. As citizens, our utmost respect should be shown to those who keep our Constitution viable, who take upon themselves the responsibility to protect us, our government, and our Constitution. So is our Constitution truly relevant? Only We the people can decide.