Students discuss perception of the constitution

A document over 200 years old made Texas Tech students question how relative the document is to the world today.

The Constitution of the United States, written in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is interpreted by some how the Founding Fathers wrote it, and others have a lighter interpretation.

Todd Mistrot, a graduate interdisciplinary skills major from Lubbock, said some people read the Constitution verbatim, and others have a loose interpretation because they feel the Founding Fathers could not have known what the country would be like today.

“Ours was one of the,” Mistrot said, “if not, the longest standing Constitution. It was written vague enough that we can still incorporate some technology in today’s time back to the overall meaning of the Founding Fathers.”

The American Public Policy grader said the Constitution lays out the groundwork of our country. He said the Constitution is one of the key components of our country, and since it has lasted over 200 years should prove the document’s importance.

The Marquette University Law School Blog revealed Originalists interpret the Constitution as fixed as the Framers of the document meant. The blog explained Advocates for a living Constitution believe if it does not reflect the changes in our country, it risks losing relevance.

Jennifer Giles, a junior speech, language, and hearing science major from Friendswood, Texas, said the Constitution should not be interpreted strictly by its original intent, and the government should take what was established and adapt the changes to the world we live in.

“The Democratic Party,” Giles, president of Tech Student Democrats said, “is a party all about change and progress, and as the world changes, as our nation changes, our Constitution should reflect that.”

The Public Broadcasting Service website reported the Constitution did not state a need for political parties, but the separation of parties give knowledge from two sides and help with America’s growth.

Megan McMillan, the president of Tech College Republicans, said that America has evolved into democrats and republicans, but the country has had Federalists and Wigs, so other parties occurring in the future are possible.

McMillan, a senior marketing major from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said the Constitution should not change with society, and America should interpret it how it was when it was written.

“As Republicans,” McMillan said, “we believe that the Constitution is the law of the land, and our country is based upon it.”

As stated in Article VI of the Constitution, the document is described as the authority of the United Stated and the supreme law of the land.

Ben Sharp, a senior economics major from Borger, Texas, said the Constitution is the governing document of the United States of America that sets the rules by which our government runs.

Sharp, the Student Government Association president, said it is a bare bones document on what the government should look like and allows freedom of change by those in power.

The PBS website indicated some believe the amendment process, through Article V of the Constitution, is key to the Constitution’s success. The broadcasting service described amendments make a change or addition to the Constitution.

Sharp said the First Amendment is used everyday, especially to him, the freedom of religion. He said it is interesting to question if there should be limits on the First Amendment related to insensitive or derogatory terms.

The PBS website stated the First Amendment is mainly to protect unpopular ideas because people will already agree with popular ideas.

Sharp said one of the beautiful aspects of the Constitution is that it is a living document loose enough for interpretation.

“The government is very different now,” Sharp said, as he smiled, “but looking back at the document, we can see it’s been the model for pretty much every other democratic nation in the world. I think it’s more important as we consider the world power that the United States is.”

On the web:

http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2012/09/18/sticking-it-to-the-constitution/

http://www.pbs.org/tpt/constitution-usa-peter-sagal/home/

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution

Service Journalism

Constitution of the United States of America

· Amendments are an addition to the Constitution. 11,000 amendments have been introduced to Congress, but 27 amendments received approval from the states.

· The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, but it took effect of March 4, 1789.

Sources: The Charter of Freedom, Central Georgia Technical College

Political Parties

· George Washington did not agree with political parties fearing they would become too powerful, but once he left office, the parties cemented in United States government.

· The first two political parties to appear were the Federalists, who supported ratification of the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed ratification.

Sources: Constitutional Rights Foundation, PBS

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