Political science discussion
Discussion: Political science
The Judiciary is the branch of government that interprets the laws and the Constitution. Historically, there have been different schools of thought as to how the Constitution should be interpreted., two of which are discussed in the video. It is suggested that Justice Scalia favors “originalism,” a view that the power of the federal government should be very limited relative to those of the states, and that the meaning of the constitution should be derived by sticking exactly to what is written, and looking to the intentions of its framers for guidance. This philosophy generally emphasizes that the Constitution should be accepted as an unchanging foundation of our government in order to prevent the accumulation and abuse of power by the federal government.
On the other hand, there are those who support a more broad or “liberal” interpretation and sometimes refer this as a philosophy of a “living” Constitution, which should evolve over time in order to take into account the great changes in society that have occurred since the late 1700s when the constitution was written. Proponents of this view, suggest that it is presumptuous to believe that we can truly understand all of the intentions of the framers as they would apply to present day situations, and that some parts of the Constitution, such as those dealing with slavery, and the fact that it locked women and other minority groups out of the political system, show the need for an understanding of the Constitution that can evolve and is open to change. Many supporters of this view argue that greater power is often necessary for the central government to deal with the challenges and injustices that our society faces. Which of these philosophies do you believe is most appropriate for our times and its challenges, “originalism” or the “living constitution”. Be sure to include the reasoning for your view, keeping in mind the points made in the video.
Answer preview for Political science discussion
Access the full answer containing 570 words by clicking the below purchase button