The
United States Constitution is the most significant document in the free world.
This country has led the way for all modern democracies, with its freedoms,
three-branch government, and open election system. Though not perfect, the
document has been debated over and reinterpreted by citizens, all branches of
government, and the media. But it’s what
glues the country together and since 1787 has been the law of the land. Now a new book potentially will either help
people understand and appreciate this historic but very relevant document or it
will bastardize it and lead to confusion over just what the legal intention of
the document should be.
The
book in question is called The Constitution of the United States of America:
Modern Edition; Rearranged and Edited for Ease of Reading.
So
what does this book do? It:
*Rearranges
the order of the document and subsequent Amendments
*Cleans
up 18th century spellings and capitalizations
*Fixes
excessive and confusing punctuation
*Neatens up some of the old grammar
*Issues
different headings
*Provides
definitions for certain words and phrases
Though
one would think the pros outweigh the cons, as old writings need to be almost
translated into modern language, tinkering with a document like the
Constitution is too dangerous. Because the document is constantly being
reinterpreted by the Supreme Court, we can’t risk confusion even while seeking
to make things clearer.
The
Bible, the dictionary, and other major books have undergone renovations over
the years and we seemingly survived but the Constitution needs to be reserved –
not edited.
However,
as evidenced by the book’s message to the reader, the book feels it’s made
worthwhile changes that won’t negatively impact the integrity of the
document. It says:
“The improved readability of the modern edition has been achieved without harm to
the Constitution’s often-praised eloquence. The majestic language of the
Founding Fathers has not been simplified or paraphrased; it has only been
modernized in the few cases where it departs sharply from current usage.
“The
editorial improvements have likewise done no harm to the accuracy of the text.
None of the changes affect the meaning of the Constitution, as revealed by its
language and the Supreme Court decisions and political usages that have
interpreted and applied it, except to make the meaning more clear.
“While
the Modern Edition focuses attention on today’s Constitution, it can also aid
the historical study of the document. In “The Constitution of the Past,” the
repealed and obsolete provisions are sorted into groups showing major stages,
crises, and problems in the nation’s history: the procedures for starting the
new government after adoption of the Constitution, the establishment of slavery
in the supreme law of the land, the adoption and repeal of Prohibition, and
others. The historical forces and events that have made some clauses obsolete
are explained by footnotes.
“The
Modern Edition provides, for the first time in two centuries, the text of the
Constitution in a form that is well organized and free of antiquated literary
and typographical features. This edition makes the study of the Constitution
less difficult and more rewarding for students, citizens—everyone.”
Interestingly,
when you look at the 39 men who signed the Constitution, one came from New
York. Each of the 13 original states had
at least two representatives sign on, and Pennsylvania, led by Benjamin
Franklin, had eight. Delaware, with
five, had the second most.
The
Constitutional Convention took place on September 17, 1787 – 11 years after we
declared ourselves a free nation in 1776.
It was ratified in 1788 and the Bill of Rights, which comprised of the
first 10 amendments, came about in 1791.
So what happened in those early years of our country’s development,
leading up to 1791, when things like a free press were not necessarily protected
by law the way the Constitution has? The Articles of Confederation existed, but the Constitution was a document that needed to be created.
Let’s
conclude with a reprinting of the most important part of the Constitution – The
First Amendment:
"Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or
the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances."
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