Young Writers Society

What would life be like without the Constitution? Eventually, we would have a tyranny. The thing that the colonists were trying to avoid. What is a tyranny? A tyranny usually refers to when a person has a lot of power on their hands, having complete control. How does the Constitution guard us from this? Some ways that the Constitution could guard us from tyranny are by diving powers between the central and state governments, dividing powers between branches of government evenly, using checks and balances and lastly, in the Legislative Branch, there is equal representation from all the states.

First, the Constitution guards us from tyranny by diving powers between the central and state governments. Some examples of this are indicated in Document A. It describes that the central government can, “regulate trade, conduct foreign relations and declare war.” Meanwhile, the states can, “set up local governments, hold elections and establish schools.” As James Madison said, “The different governments will each control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.” What James Madison is trying to say is that the central and state governments have enough power that they don’t control everything. The central government has enough power to help some of the country’s major needs and the state government has enough power to help the state’s needs because the state’s needs may be more specific. From this, you may conclude, that diving powers between the central and state governments prevents tyranny.

Secondly, the Constitution guards us from tyranny by dividing the branches of government. For example, in Document B, it says, “Liberty requires that the great departments of powers should be separate and distinct.” This means that the Legislative Branch should be completely different from the Executive or the Judicial Branch. This would separate all the powers needed into three separate parties. The different branches could have different viewpoints to make sure that almost everyone is pleased with the government. This may prevent tyranny by making people not want to try to take over the government because they think it is in good hands and the three branches of government are hard to take over, since there are three whole branches. In conclusion, the Constitution, may protects us from tyranny in this way.

Thirdly, the Constitution guards us from tyranny by using checks and balances. In Document C, it says, “… the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that they may be a check on the other… (The three branches) should not be so far separated as to have no constitutional control over each other.” This basically means other branches check the other branches to make sure they are all the same in power. They check by using their equal power and approving or disapproving something that the other branch has done. If one branch becomes over powered, then there may be a tyranny , in which, one branch has absolute control over the whole government. All in all, using checks and balances, the Constitution may help stop tyranny.

Lastly, the Constitution guards us from tyranny by having equal representation from all the states. In Document D, it says, “The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand but each state shall have at least one representative… The Senate of the United States shall be composed by the legislatures thereof for six years, and each senator shall have one vote.” These laws in the Constitution are to make sure that all the states have equal power. They must all have equal representation so that they can have a say in the government. In theory if the Constitution was not there, some states would have total control over other states because the smaller states didn’t have a say. The terms the people have, also keep people who make laws from being in the government for too long because they could gain a lot of power, too much power. This is the last way the Constitution may prevents tyranny.

Since there are many types of tyrannies, we have to have different ways to defend against them. The Constitution could prevent tyranny by dividing powers between central and state government, dividing powers between the branches of government, using checks and balances and lastly, in the Legislative Branch, there is equal representation from all the states. We need the Constitution to defend us against tyranny and to create a solid government. In conclusion, the Constitution defends us from tyranny.