How minority rights, separation of powers and consent of the governed affect limited government.
The United States, previously perceived as strong, independent and virtuous has recently been criticized of being detached from it’s citizens. Some political leaders have been accused of being more attentive to personal interests then the complications and concerns of the American people. However, my belief in this country remains undeterred by the inequitable political leaders in charge of the protest and government shut down earlier this year in Washington DC. My faith remains because of how the government and principles of the constitution work together to make this country great. Ideas such as the separation of power, consent of the governed, and rights of the minority allow for this country to prevail.
One of the principles of government that is demarcated by the constitution is separation of powers. Separation of powers is the division of national government authority among the 3 branches of government; legislative executive and judicial. Montesquieu was an enlightenment philosopher who admired and respected Britain’s government for the way the government was separated. Throughout his life he wrote many papers about it and eventually set a
standard for separation of powers. The United States separation of powers evolved from Great Britain’s arrangement of separation of powers. The executive branch was changed from a king to a president, legislative was changed from parliament to congress, and judicial was changed from House of Lords to the Supreme Court (Bobrick). Separation of powers is an important concept because it ensures that one branch cannot be in charge of the entire government and that all branches are responsible and have a role in taking place in the government.
That is important because it creates diversity so that everyone’s ideas can be represented and have a place instead of the ideas of a few governing the citizens.
Another principle stated in the constitution is consent of the governed. Consent of the governed is the authorization by the people for the government to rule. Consent of the governed has become an important principle in long lasting governments because if the people don’t approve then they may revolt or try to overthrow and change the government. As of 2004, over 65% of the world’s population lives where laws and (at least some) actions of government are decided by consent of the governed (rahn); however as these numbers increase the formerly important and groundbreaking idea of consent of the governed is being forsaken by current political and social scientists (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia). Despite the lack of attention by political and social scientists, consent of the governed remains one of the most important principles in the United States. Without consent of the governed we could have been subjected to a tyranny or a dictatorship, but consent of the governed lets us have our say in the government enabling it to fit our own needs.
Rights of the minority come from having a democracy where people can vote on issues, ideas, and representatives in a democracy. All willing citizens cast a ballot in secrecy for the side that they choose. The side that wins the election by having the most votes is called the majority, while the opposing (losing) side is called the minority. Even when the majority wins, the idea may have to be compromised so it doesn’t infringe the rights of the people. Rights of the minority don’t have to involve a democracy or an election; in this case the minority can be both in the election or just a smaller group of people. Rights of the minority have been wrongfully violated before in times of war. During World War II thousands of Japanese Americans were put in internment camps because the government feared they would be disloyal. This paradigm is a direct attack on the rights of the minority. The United States eventually recognized this as an injustice and fixed it the best that they could.
The United States may have recently been criticized but I believe people are so focused on the negative points that they completely forget about the positive aspects. I believe that this country is still strong, independent and
virtuous. Some political leaders may be immoral but you cannot judge the whole by the actions of a few. This country remains independent and free because of the constitution and the principles and ideas outlined there. My faith remains strong in this country because of the amount of freedom the citizens have and how much of a role they get to play in there government.