US Constitution’s Evolution: Rights, Representation, and Reform
Meaning of “We the People” at the Time of the U.S. Constitution’s Ratification in 1789
The first three words of the US Constitution ratified in 1787, mean that the sole purpose of the US government is to serve its citizenry. The US Constitution is the principal instrument of governance and the nation’s supreme law. Over the past 200 years, it has served as the foundation for political stability, individual freedom, economic prosperity, and social advancement. The main purpose of this document was to create a strong elective government that directly implements the people’s will.
Expansion of the Understanding of “We the People” Over Time
The understanding of the “we” in “We the People” has drastically changed as time passes. In the beginning, the only group that the Constitution protected and was given the right to vote was able-bodied white men. After the American Civil War, the rights of other groups in the US were gradually given the same rights. Firstly, it was the African Americans who were freed from slavery and given citizenship and, later, the right to vote. Then, voting rights were extended to all women in the US. Thus, the Constitution has finally realized its intended goal: all men are created equal and deserve equal rights.
Areas for Further Expansion of Civil Rights
However, some groups in the US are still underrepresented in the American voting system, and the government should take action to expand those groups’ rights. For example, white conservative voters tend to choose African American candidates instead of Mexican American candidates, even if the said candidates share the same political visions and goals (Chirco & Buchanan, 2023). This may mean that voters show prejudice towards more “foreign” looking candidates than those that have a more established history as American citizens.
Moreover, certain high-needs groups may lack an understanding of the US Constitution due to their special needs and/or lacking knowledge of the English language. Thus, these groups may have trouble understanding and exercising the rights granted to them by the Constitution. With a proper curriculum in civic education, the children belonging to the high-needs groups can show the same levels of knowledge and skills as any other children would (Owen & Phillips, 2023). These demographics will constitute a large portion of future voters, activists, and politicians, and without proper education in this field, they may stay as marginalized groups.
Government Approaches to Expanding Civil Rights
Thus, I believe that certain actions by the US government should be taken to uphold the core Constitutional belief that all men are created equal and deserve equal rights. Constitutional rights should be expanded de facto and de jure because of the principles upon which the United States was built and for more pragmatic reasons. A more thorough inclusion of marginalized groups into the voting system will prevent possible civil unrest and improve the overall cohesion of the US population.
I believe that the actions the US should commit should be allocated to two fields: education and inclusion. Firstly, the curriculum on the US Constitution should be translated into the language of the minority populations of the country, which should include Braille for the people with problems with vision. This should be translated in an easy-to-understand form to speed up the integration of these groups. Secondly, to offset the prejudice towards the “foreign” looking candidates, the US should create temporary quotas for the people of marginalized groups in administrative positions. Thus, most US population will see them as more trustworthy and deserving of their votes.
References
Owen, D. & Phillips, D. P. (2023). Toward an Accessible Civics Curriculum: Adapting We the People for High-Need Students. APSA Preprints. Web.
Chirco, P & Buchanan T. M. (2023). We the People. Who? The face of future American politics is shaped by perceived foreignness of candidates of color. Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. Web.