Dear Readers,
The United States of America was originally founded upon the principles of democracy and self-governance. Its Founding Fathers believed first and foremost that citizens had a God-given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Maybe just as important though was their belief that people had the right to govern themselves and choose their own leaders. They formalized their beliefs in a series of documents, perhaps the most important of which was the U.S. Constitution, which defined exactly how the newly formed country was meant to be governed and which rights were eternally granted to its citizens.
The Founding Fathers had high hopes for the new country and for the Constitution that would preserve its structure. Unfortunately, it may be safe to say that their lofty goals have been diverted somewhat in the intervening centuries. Constitutional doctrine is debated daily in the halls of Congress and the Supreme Court, with the document’s meaning being repeatedly re-determined on the whims of the political pundits of the day. This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The people tasked with protecting the Constitution are human after all and subject to their own imperfections. There was simply no better alternative at the time of the Constitution’s signing.
