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Adoption of the Virginia Constitution

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Adoption of the Virginia Constitution
Emily Campos
October 24, 2013
American History
We the People
I believe that the Virginia Constitution has the best chance to have a successful central government. This constitution has a good balance when it came to equality and liberty. This plan not only focuses on the good of the countries but it tries to make their decisions based off of what people need and want. “All men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot by any compact deprive or divest their posterity; namely, the enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety. All power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the People—magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them” (James Madison: The Madison Plan, 1787). They care for the people opinion, and do not want their government to be ruled by one big powerful house.
That is why they divide the power into three branches. “The Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary department, shall be separate and distinct, so that neither exercise the powers properly belonging to the other: nor shall any person exercise the powers of more than one of them, at the same time” (The Virginia Constitution of 1776). I think that spreading the power in any type of situation is always the best choice, not only because looking at different viewpoints opens the door to many different possibilities, but also because it minimizes the chance of war with a more powerful branch.
Also, the powers try not to be cruel and hard on the people. “Excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted, and general warrants, whereby an officer or messenger may be commanded to search suspected places without evidence of a fact committed, or to seize any person or persons not named, or whose offence is not
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