I need help on this question. I have 30 questions and this is the only one i'm stuck on.
Why did the Framers of the Constitution create a mechanism for amending the Constitution but then make it very difficult to actually make any changes?
Since the Constitution is the basis for our nation's laws, the Framers didn't want it changed without careful thought and the majority of people agreeing to the change.
Thx, Ms. Sue. I appreciate it.
You're welcome, Mary. :-)
To answer this question, it is important to understand the perspective and intentions of the Framers of the Constitution. The Framers were primarily concerned with creating a durable and stable framework of government that would not be easily swayed by temporary popular sentiment or the whims of individual politicians. They wanted to ensure that any changes made to the Constitution were deliberate, well-considered, and widely supported.
Now, let's break down the question into two parts:
1. Why did the Framers create a mechanism for amending the Constitution?
The Framers recognized that the Constitution could not perfectly anticipate and address all future challenges and needs of the nation. They wanted to provide a way to update and improve the Constitution over time without resorting to revolution or overthrowing the entire framework of government. By allowing for amendments, they acknowledged the possibility of changing circumstances and the need for the Constitution to evolve with the times.
2. Why did the Framers make it difficult to actually make any changes?
The Framers deliberately designed the amendment process to be deliberately challenging. There were two primary reasons behind this:
a) Stability and cautiousness: The Framers believed that any changes to the Constitution should not be made frivolously or impulsively. They wanted to ensure that amendments were thoroughly considered and broadly supported by multiple layers of government to avoid hasty or ill-advised modifications. The difficult amendment process was meant to act as a safeguard against the potential abuse of power or short-term passions.
b) Federalism and checks and balances: The Constitution established a system of federalism and a separation of powers among the federal branches of government. The amendment process was structured to reflect this balance of power. It requires broad support and agreement from both the national and state levels of government. This ensures that any proposed change to the Constitution reflects a broad consensus and is not easily imposed by a single faction or interest group.
In summary, the Framers created a mechanism for amending the Constitution to allow updates and improvements over time. However, they intentionally made it difficult to make changes in order to balance stability, cautiousness, and the complex system of federalism and checks and balances they established in the Constitution.