State constitutions play a growing role in American politics. But turning to such documents to recognize rights and liberties is not a new project – nor is it an entirely liberal one.
Articles on Constitutional convention
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The First Amendment – and the freedom of speech it guarantees – is considered a fundamental element of American freedom and identity. But it wasn’t even part of the original Constitution.
When the US Constitution was written, many people − from those who wrote the document to those on the outside who read it − believed that endowing the president with kinglike powers was dangerous.
The UK does not have executive orders like the US. But there are still ways for the government to administratively act without parliament.
Voters have cast their ballots. Now the 2024 US presidential election comes down to the Electoral College.
Right from the very beginning of the nation, there have been rules that limit the ability of the people to choose their leaders.
The framers decided that members of both the House and Senate would be required to be “an inhabitant” of the state they represent.
Compromises, no matter how horrible, have long been used to solve seemingly intractable political problems – but at a cost.
Five scholars explain different aspects of the history, workings and effects of the Electoral College.
Three approaches were debated during the Constitutional Convention – election by Congress, selection by state legislatures and a popular election, though that was restricted to white landowning men.
The framers of the Constitution were very clear that presidential terms have time limits. Not four years and a day. Not three years and 364 days. Four years.
With a Supreme Court ruling rejecting one of the founders’ two reasons for creating the Electoral College, only one reason remains: racism.
Calling witnesses and reviewing documents fit the Founders’ goals for impeachment to curb the president’s unilateral power.
The Founders saw impeachment as a regular part of ensuring presidential accountability. A constitutional scholar offers a possible process for a rapid and smooth impeachment inquiry.
The now-infamous section 44 of the Australian Constitution was a last-minute change by the authors, drafted in private and accepted out of weariness.
Treaties have to be the foundation for constitutional recognition, not the reverse.
Top contributors
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Interim Dean and James F. Ackerman Professor; College of Education, Purdue University, Purdue University
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Professor of law and ethics, Georgia State University
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Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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Professor of American History, Università di Torino
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Professor of History and Provost Emeritus, Binghamton University, State University of New York
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Associate Professor of Political Science, Westminster College
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Assistant Professor of Law, University of Houston
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Ph.D. Student in History, Johns Hopkins University
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Professor of Political Science and Director of the Elections Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Procurement, Bangor University
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Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, University of Sydney
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Associate Professor of Law, Michigan State University
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Visiting Professorial Fellow, UNSW
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Senior Fellow, Miller Center, University of Virginia
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Associate Professor of Political Science, Boise State University