(TruthandLiberty.com) – Our Founding Fathers thought long and hard about how to put together a government that would protect every American’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for centuries to come. So, in order to fully appreciate the freedoms we have in this country, we must understand what a constitutional republic is and how ours came to be.
Understanding a Constitutional Republic
A constitutional republic is a form of government under which people elect lawmakers to represent them in government. The government is separated into multiple different branches and run according to a constitution, allowing for oversight and a healthy separation of powers. These components allow for the rights of individuals and minorities to be considered and protected.
America Has Been a Constitutional Republic From the Start
Our Founding Fathers were clear when putting our Constitution together that they did not want a simple democracy. Such a system would allow a majority to rule completely over a minority. History shows that this quickly leads to the erosion of the rights and freedoms of individuals.
Many of the immigrants who started our nation experienced the tyranny that democracy and a sovereign majority can inflict on the people. This was part of the inspiration for them to lay out the groundwork of our Constitutional Republic.
So, our Founding Fathers separated our government into the legislative, judicial, and executive branches to ensure no single section of government could control the entire nation. Furthermore, by allowing each state to have voting power within Congress, they ensured no one could be bullied by a numerical majority.
Our Consitution Protects Minority Rights
John Adams once said that democracy “soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself”, as, historically, majority rule usually gives way to human greed for power and control. So, rather than locking every future American into a doomed form of government, they created the constitutional republic we know today.
Our Electoral College, the system of checks and balances, and the legislative filibuster all showcase the ingenuity of our government. It leaves the power to govern in the hands of the people, rather than dictators and despots.
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