Using the Same Constitution

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 89, 7 March 1941, Page 5

Using the Same Constitution

HE original 13 states have multiplied into 48. ‘- From the Atlantic sea-board, the United States has spread westwards right to the Pacific coast. From four million souls, the population has grown to 130,000,000. From an agricultural and fishing community, the country has developed into one of the most powerful industrial nations in the world. Yet, the written letter of the Constitution is basically the same to-day as in 1789. There have been 21 amendments to it, but only a few of these have brought about any fundamental change. Naturally the Constitution could not be adapted to the 20th century unless its written letter were differently interpreted. This then is what has happened. Steadily over the last eighty years, the federal government has increased its power relatively to the states. First, the

civil war between North and South led to a strengthening of national authority. Then when modern business grew to its present nation-wide range, only the federal government had the means to control it. And as the United States increased in international importance, the problems of foreign relations placed further responsibility on the federal govern-

ment.

-("The Political System of the United States’

(2) "Federalism and the Political Parties," by Pro-

fessor

Leslie

Lipson

. Victoria University College;

2XA, February 17.)