The Pros And Cons Of The Constitution

The Constitution was adopted over 200 years ago and is still relevant today; it is widely debated whether the Constitution stands as a legal or living document. A living document is a document that evolves, changes over time, and adapts to new circumstances. The Constitution is a living document as it is open to constant change through the amendment process and is also undergoing interpretation by Congress; however, it is believed that the Constitution should be interpreted as it was originally written. The Constitution undergoes constant change through the creation of amendments or repeal of an existing amendment. The Bill of Rights make up the first ten amendments made to the Constitution, and it was written to ensure constitutional protection for individual liberties (Bill of Rights). Amendment XIII indicates the abolishment of slavery, which restricts every person from holding slaves or engaging in other forms of involuntary servitude (Amend. XIII). Amendment XXVI gave young adults between the age of eighteen and twenty-one the right to vote (Amend. XXVI). One of most important features of the Constitution is that it can be altered, expanded, or contracted without replacing the entire document.
Marbury v Madison enacted the principle of Judicial Review, which is the power of federal courts to void acts of Congress in conflict with the Constitution (“Marbury v Madison”). Brown v School Board of Education overturned the provisions of Plessy v Ferguson by ruling segregation as unconstitutional. Tinker v Des Moines established students right to public speech (“Landmark Cases”). Supreme Court interpretation, allows the original text of the Constitution to be mended in order to accommodate to the time