by Kid Dynomite

Created on: May 27, 2007   Last Updated: December 19, 2007

We live in a political body built upon checks and balances. The Executive, Legislative, Judicial branches; accompanied by the media and the people themselves, are the 5 major entities of a government.

The Constitution explicitly grants certain powers to each body, such as the freedom of the press to media, or the right to make currency to Congress. The people are also allowed rights: to vote, to due process, to free speech, as well as to bear arms.

The Declaration of Independence states that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

While this is not a legal document, the Declaration of Independence provides historical context necessary to interpreting the Constitution.

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"

In our democratic system, the people choose their representatives on the basis of the candidate's ability to secure the basic rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government"

Before a new government is established, it is the responsibility of the people and the representatives that they elect to effectively alter government policy in order to fulfill the expressed function of government.

The first amendment establishes the rights of the people necessary to attempt to alter the existing government.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The media and religion can both influence politics and culture to invoke change. But when that simply does not work; when the free press is an travesty born of monopoly and the sit in doesn't cause a stir on Capitol Hill, one can only take arms as the original founders of our country did.

The second amendment grants the people the right to bear arms, and states the necessity of a militia.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Why is it that the founding fathers found

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>