“Can our Constitution ever be removed from the American people?”
This question was sent to me from one of our participants last week. How many of us have considered ways that our Constitution could be taken from us? We know that We the People are the keepers of the Constitution. We don’t even want to think about how the world’s greatest liberty-loving foundational governing document could be swept out from under our feet and torn apart.
In my answer to the question, I offered our participant a few ways the Constitution could be taken from us.
– If a foreign superpower took us over, then, yes. It’s a possibility that with or even without conventional warfare, we could be taken over through a cyberwar, economic collapse, power grid failure, etc. Thus, another superpower rises with its Constitution in place.
-If the Constitution remains a document in name only and the separation of powers becomes just a phrase. If that happened, one branch would govern- legislative, executive, or judicial- to exclude the other two. This is the way many countries are run. It’s “government by a few” and not by the people.
– If We the People allow the amendment process to expand federal power incrementally. Did you realize that federal power has incrementally expanded over time following the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution)? If we elect state and federal officials who will continue to do this to our Supreme Law of the Land, then yes. The Constitution could change beyond recognition over time.
– Finally, unless parents stand up and demand traditional civics education for their children, our posterity could indirectly change our Constitution by who they vote for and what they stand for regarding the law.
Our Constitution provides a balance between liberty and security. What other Constitutions do that? Our Constitution is unique in that way. The Constitution works, but it is not a self-enforcing document. We must guard and follow it to remain strong.
Maybe you can think of additional ways our Supreme Law of the Land could be taken from us. I invite you to join the conversation on Facebook, if you would like to add your thoughts. Also, you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter by scrolling down to the bottom of the main page and signing up. I can be reached by email at commonsensecivics@gmail.com.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
