Democracy and Power Checks in the U.S. Constitution

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In writing the Constitution, the Framers were aiming to rectify the states’ inadequate attempt at establishing a democratic government. They wanted to create a stronger government while simultaneously keeping it a democracy and protecting the Peoples’ power within it. Wary of monarchy, they intended to constrain their envisioned government’s power by creating checks and balances between and within its branches. Did they do a good enough job? In Section I, we see the Framers’ intentions for the legislature’s lower chamber to be the government’s source of democracy. Section II reveals the absence of an essential check on the legislative branch, and how leaving the legislature unchecked in regard to its own elections threatens democracy in the Framers’ government. Section III shows how my amendment creates the necessary checks to address this threat, and thus protects democracy and the People in the Framers’ government. I. The Constitution’s ‘Democracy Heart’: The House of Representatives The Framers shaped a government almost entirely untouchable by the People. The Judiciary is appointed by the President, who is chosen by “electors” selected by each state legislature. The Senate (also selected by state legislatures) was designed as a check …show more content…

But the government’s heart can be sapped by incumbents. This threat shows that the Framers failed to create a necessary check on the legislative branch to prevent incumbents from manipulating the districts of voters for self-gain. Hence, my amendment is necessary to protect the government’s democracy-heart. If politicians choose their voters rather than the other way around, is the United States still a democracy at all? Or is it simply a governmental tin man with no

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