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American democracy
The American constitution is one of the most envied constitutions in the world. Other countries envy how Americans uphold all that is stipulated in their constitution and how it works for them. This paper closely looks at the process that America went through to get the coveted constitution. The process was not easy at all, many conventions took place and the process was time consuming among other resources. However after all this, the constitution was left to individual states to either ratify or reject it(Tilly 2007). The paper also discusses the ratification of the constitution and the compromise made by delegates in the constitutional convention of 1787.The paper will present the writers view regarding democracy in America, did the constitution bring democracy or did democracy bring the constitution? The American constitution provides for human rights and upholds democracy to the highest level. Democracy in this case is leadership for the people, where the citizens have a stake at the leadership and decision making process.
The role of democracy in the constitution making process was well defined and respected. Democracy was exhibited in the making of the constitution as peoples suggestions were respected and considered. At this early time, democracy was not known by many and not many countries had a constitution. The American constitution was designed by delegates who had been chosen from all states to represent the interests of their people(Tilly 2007). The representation of the greater population by few delegates in the constitutional conventions was a show of democracy. The opinions and interests of the greater majority were represented by people whom they had chosen. Delegates clearly understood the mandate they had been given by the people and upheld it. A historian may ask himself, did the constitution bring democracy or did democracy bring the constitution? Democracy brought the constitution however, the constitution upholds and supports for democracy. The people were able to seat in all the conventions, give each other a chance to contribute and come up with a constitution to guide the country democracy brought the constitution.
Democracy also involves freedom of speech. Members of a democratic republic have the freedom to express themselves and share any agenda that they may have regarding the country and development. In 1787 during the constitutional conventions, there was a deadlock on how states would get representation in the congress(Stewart 2007). Every state wanted and supported the policy/suggestion that favored them. Large states with high populations supported the motion to have more representatives for larger states with high population than small states which were less populous. At the same time, smaller states supported the motion to have one representative per state. Freedom of speech was first show cased in this conference where the delegate from Connecticut Mr. Sherman expressed himself with a viable suggestion. His policy was adopted by those who had attended the forum. If democracy was not in use, then it would be difficult for Mr. Sherman to get the attention he required to have the motion accepted.
The American constitution upholds democracy through the institutions it has put in place for every process to be democratic. Elections at are national level are always conducted after four years, this ensures that the people have the verdict of who gets to represent them. Democracy involve the people making choices on who should be their leaders and taking out of office those leaders who fail to perform as expected of them(Obama & Obama 2006). The ratification of the constitution was a process that proved that democracy was being upheld in America even before the constitution was put into use. The people had the chance to make a decision to either ratify or reject the constitution. Different states took different amounts of time to go through the constitution and understand it before they could make a decision. A major debate in the conventions was the representation of each state in congress.
In conclusion, the opinions of the people in the constitution making process were upheld and gave America a chance to have a constitution(Stewart 2007). The constitution upholds democracy since, the constitution has created institutions which give people the chance to be heard and participate in the decision making process. The decision making process involves elections where people have the chance to put into office the leaders of their choice. The ratification process was also a chance to exhibit democracy, every state had time to either accept or reject the constitution. It was a chance for independent decision making where everybody had an equal chance. Democracy is the participation of people to contribute in leadership by having their opinions heard and worked on(Obama & Obama 2006). This is giving the people a chance in choosing their leaders and getting rid of those who waste their chance while at positions of power and leadership. The constitution has put in place institutions which uphold democracy and give people the freedom of speech.
References
Obama, B., & Obama, B. (2006). The audacity of hope: thoughts on reclaiming the American dream. New York: Crown Publishers.
Stewart, D. O. (2007). The summer of 1787: the men who invented the Constitution. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Tilly, C. (2007). Democracy. Cambridge [England: Cambridge University Press.
