The defense of anything boils down to its right to exist. And its right to exist depends on how useful it is, whether it solves a problem, improves life. Thus, defense of the Constitution must necessarily include an explanation of the problems it was designed to solve or minimize. In short, we must begin with the why.
From conversations with younger citizens and observations of those close to our education system, I sense the study of history has lagged somewhat in recent years, to put it diplomatically. If you, too, feel many fellow citizens have been short-changed when it comes to learning about conditions prior to the founding of America and the brilliance of our founding documents, here are four problems from the past to help you explain why God established the U.S. Constitution.
Problem #1: Centralized Power.
As I have written elsewhere, several societies over the centuries established representative governments to better control how power is exercised – Athenian democracy in the fifth century BC, the Roman Republic with its Senate before Caesar took dictatorial powers, and various localized experiments such as the Italian city states and the cities of the Hanseatic League.
Despite such attempts at democracy, power was almost always aggregated at the top in a monarch, emperor or dictator, or in a small group such as an aristocracy. Any powers held by an aristocracy, however, were never meant to act as a check and balance on the king, but only to extend his power to every corner of his kingdom. Centralized power was and is an easy road to corrupt power.
Constitution Solution: Organize government into separate but equal branches thus decentralizing power. Further, divide power between a national (federal) government and its sub-components (states). Further, enumerate the powers the federal government can exercise (only 18 are specifically listed) and leave the remaining to the states and the people.
Has it worked without a hitch? Of course not, but the ideal has been established. Those who say we need to update or modernize the Constitution usually have in mind a more efficient executive unhindered by a squabbling legislature – in short, centralized power and no checks and balances. What a step backward that would be.
Problem #2: Government is Sovereign and the Source of Rights.
No matter the era of history, governments of whatever form were always sovereign over the people, and people’s rights, if any, came from government. The king was boss. Whatever system of government he instituted called the shots. Any rights the people had, few as they were, came from the king. The idea of the people being sovereign over government was laughable.
Constitution Solution: For the first time in history, the people exercising their God-given agency were declared sovereign over the government and rulers were not the source of key rights. These natural rights – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (aka, the right to the fruits of one’s labor) – were no longer merely the wish of astute thinkers (Montesquieu, Locke, et al), but became key components of the nation’s foundation.
Problem #3: Divine Right of Kings.
The natural inclination to seek leaders allowed not only military heroes to become kings (the traditional path), but also the prideful to use flattery to gain thrones. And when kings aged, relatives wanted to keep it in the family and fob onto the huddled masses that a royal lineage claim on power – royal blood – is God’s will. Better still, to combat those who want a people’s voice in the matter, turn the monarch into a deity himself. What a fancy way to take the name of God in vain.
Constitution Solution: The people are sovereign; government is the servant. Thomas Jefferson said it was the first time in history that this has happened. “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union ….”
How could such an earth-jarring departure from the customary people-government relationship have been implemented if not from God?
With this singular reversal, the Constitution changed the way we should think about power and government. Leaders are governed by consent of the people, not by imagined deity or someone’s daddy’s DNA.
Problem #4: Ever-Changing Whims.
So many societies throughout history were run on the wings, wishes and whims of those on top. A stable set of rules emperors were obligated to follow existed rarely if at all. “Just wing it, Caesar; you’re divine and infallible” was the mood and mode. This is not to say societies didn’t have rules. They had plenty of them – plenty for those labeled peasants and commoners. But not for monarchs and the elite.
Constitution Solution: What most Americans do not realize is that the U.S. Constitution was the first written constitution in history. A firm set of written principles to guide governance had never happened before. Monarchs administered their will through edicts based on feelings, but a written foundation of how a society was to be governed – especially a consistent due process of law – did not exist. Today, all but six nations in the world have a written constitution and almost all of them have borrowed from the U.S. Constitution. Does something about the gathering of Israel come to mind?
Summing it up, we do not need to memorize the 4500 words of the Constitution, the 3000 words of the 27 amendments, or the 1500 words of the Declaration of Independence. To successfully defend the Constitution, start with the simple stories of why it exists.
I hope you can weave the above histories into your conversations with neighbors and friends.
Gary Lawrence is a public opinion pollster and the author of “The Magnificent Gift of Agency; To Act and Not Be Acted Upon” available at Deseret Book.
Gary LawrenceMarch 9, 2021
To Steve L: Thanks for your interest. Hope to address the questions you ask, plus similar ones, in future articles. I feel a lot is about to happen.
Steve LMarch 9, 2021
I really like this article and feel we would do well to remember it in our trying to understand our voting responsibilities. I would also be curious as to how you, personally, or others think how our just past and current presidents are affecting such policy? (Especially in relation to Problem 1) Where do we seem to be headed, what we do about it? Thanks