Simplified Civics: Introduction
As I have written this blog on and off for just over two years, I have found myself wanting to do so accessibly while at the same time, deepen my own understanding of the ways in which the law works. I understand that some of things I have written are very technical in nature, while others draw on my time studying political science and my observations of the government and its aims. I love to delve into the details of issues and gain an understanding of what works and what doesn't. However, in order to do so, I need a basic understanding of the system and I would like my readers to have that as well.
With that being said, I am going to start a new series on my blog - Simplified Civics. This series will begin at the surface level explaining the different parts and functions of the United States federal government. It will be part history lesson and part civics lesson. Understanding the history of how our federal government was debated and formed is important for understanding where we are now and how we can move forward. This does not mean that I support, in the words of Madiba Dennie, "relying on the original public meaning of the Constitution at the time it was drafted." This locks one into a reading of the Constitution that "overemphasizes a particular version of history."
I think that a refresher on the limits and powers of the federal government is important in this moment. It is my hope to make people aware of their rights, the purpose of our federal government, and how we the people can make change. The government that we have today is not the one that was established by the Founders, who disagreed amongst themselves as to the power and future of the new nation. Though James Madison said that the people are "the only legitimate fountain of power", the Constitution did not allow for much direct control and indeed relegated slaves to counting as three-fifths of a person. It took nearly two percent of the United States' population, roughly equal to seven million people today, plus countless enslaved lives to undo the original sin of enshrining slavery in the Constitution.
Understanding this history, tattered and full of contradictions, is important to seeing where we are now and how we might want the world to look in the future. The role of government is one that has been heavily debated for millennia and it is no different now. Even though the Constitution provides the establishment of the federal government, the implications of it and how it is used are up to the people. By learning how it works, one can hopefully wield it to be inclusive and make it protect "the freedom of all the people; the citizenship of all the people [and] the equality of citizens."
I hope this series helps all of us learn more about our government and how we can be an active participant in it. The first post, about the Constitution's general structure, is already up and available for reading! As I write these, I'll be adding them to an index for better navigation and the index's link will always be at the bottom of every post so you can bounce back and forth. Any questions or comments can go to simplifiedcivics@tuta.io as I would love to write about things people are curious about. Happy reading!