Class notes
US Constitution
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These are class notes from the teacher on the A level edexcel Politics syllabus. They lay out the essentials of a good essay on the topic of the US Constitution
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Strengths & WeaknessesThinking Critically about Strengths & Weaknesses
What are the strengths of the US constitution?What makes it effective in:
Representing all people equally
Limiting the power of government
Protecting the rights of citizens
What are the weaknesses of the US Constitution?
How does the constitution not fulfil these roles?
Here are some strengths and weaknesses.
Bill of Rights: Enshrined rights have stood the test of time with US Citizens free to
assemble and have free speech alongside all the legal rights which some countries
do not afford to their citizens.
Principles: The Constitution presupposes that every US Citizen is entitled to a life of
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is the bedrock of a modern liberal democracy.
Amendments Process: Change can come to the Constitution, but protections are in
place to protect it from political whims and mass public hysteria. Evidence comes in
the form of the limited number of amendments since 1787.
Archaic Provisions: Some of the 18th Century provisions are no longer applicable in a
modern society and are difficult to change such as the Right to Bear Arms or form
militias.
Vagueness: The ambiguity with which the Constitution was written allows for
interpretations to form, together with the politicisation of the judiciary
Equality :When drafting the Constitution focusses on free men only, rather than all
peoples including slaves, women, and Native Americans.
The Imperial Presidency: The Constitution was vague on the powers of the executive
and did not disperse executive power evenly creating the seeds of an Imperial
Presidency that would come with the Nixon administration.
Checks and Balances: Checks and Balances ensure that all branches of government
have their power checked against the others resulting in a balanced system of
government for the people
Plan the direction of your argument and find the links between points, make essay
flow. Introduction -1
2 X
3 Y
4 Z Conclusion could be 5?
Good essays are :
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