We refer to our system of government erroneously as a democracy, when in fact it is a constitutional republic.

In a strict democracy the majority rules no matter how small and no matter what.

Our founding fathers wanted the minority to also have a voice so they set up a constitutional republic instead of a democracy.

The example of Congress passing a bill the president disagreed with shows us why they were so smart in what they did. In order to have forced the president to accept the bill our constitution spells out that both houses of congress must have a super-majority of two-thirds to override the executive’s veto.

Otherwise every bill congress passes would be law and the minority would have no say in how that law is written. This way congress has to go back to the drawing board with the executive branch and work out a compromise.

This is true of any legislation where there is such a dispute, but I’m using the Supplemental bill and veto as examples of how much thought the founders put into preserving our union.

The politicians can posture all they want, but in the end, none got what he or she wanted and will have to settle for less than they wished to get.

The only thing we should gloat over is the fact our government can disagree and still stay intact. In other countries this would have overthrown the congress or the president in a coup of some kind—bloody or bloodless.

The longer I live the more I appreciate our founding fathers and their wisdom and dedication to this new country they founded.

Written by ~J~

One Response to “Our Founding Fathers Were Pretty Smart Dudes”

1. sue says:

   May 3, 2007 at 1:13 pm

   It is amazing as you look back through history that forward thinking is what produced our ability to live as we do today.

   Who would have thought that the Constitution and Bill or Rights (yes with a few amendments) would stand the trials and tests this country has faced.

   Nice piece J.