It Has Worn Well
HE American Constitution is a very short affair,,and unlike most legal documents, it’s a delight to read. Ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, Were added to it in 1791. But since then in 150 years there have been only eleven more changes of the written text. It has been elaborated by Acts of Congress, modified by usage and custom, and interpreted by judicial decisions. Yet the main part of the framework is still the same as a group of wise and able men planned it in 1787. The Constitution has survived one gigantic threat, the Civil War of the north against the south, But the Union was saved because for 70 years the United States had grown in prosperity and security and the sentiment for the Constitution was by then stronger than the sentiment against it. Under this same Constitution the number of the States has increased from thirteen to forty-eight; the population has grown from four millions to one hundred and thirty millions; the area of the United States has been extended from 800,000 to 3,000,000 square miles. Yet a document drafted in 1787 proved adaptable to these changes. That is a
striking political record-("A Survey’ of American History: Creating a Constitution." Professor Leslie ea 2YA, April 20.)
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 152, 22 May 1942, Page 3
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215It Has Worn Well New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 152, 22 May 1942, Page 3
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