The constitutional system of the United States is a puzzling aspect of an American's life. Many do not understand. Some think they understand it and with their slight grasp of it they try to offer solutions to better it. I would like to offer a broad concept of the American constitutional system and its subcategories, which are the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and what I have learned about them. In this paper, I will also present the strengths and weaknesses concerning each category.

To begin to grasp the constitutional system, one must first comprehend why it was chosen and why the forefathers composed it this way. Because most Americans, at that time, owned guns and were not formerly educated, the forefathers feared allowing them to rule (lecture 9/27/99). So they took it upon themselves, the well educated, to forge a new democracy. The forefathers chose a mixed government that represented three existing forms of government: a monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy (lecture 9/27/99). The President would represent the elected monarchy, the Senate

The division of the government into a state and federal government is also a product of our prodigy forefathers. The federal system would have the job of making and upholding foreign policies and the overseeing the domestic affairs of the country while the state government could focus on its own policies and affairs. Each state is different. There is not one state that is 100% similar to the other. There are different customs and reservations, various dialects of the English language, and diverse issues that each state deals with. Massachusetts and New York are neighbors in the Northeast portion of the country but both have distinct identifiers. Massachusetts's residents are thought to be intellectually inclined which may produce some snobbery. We are more reserved in our attire and openness towards one another. We, for the most part, pronounce our 'r' s like

To expand on the weakness of the system it is best to look at the constitutional system from the inside out. First, let's take a look at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is supposed to basically uphold the laws and the constitution. According to David M. O'Brien, the author of the excerpt entitled The Supreme Court: From Warren to Burger to Rehnquist, "in it's history the Supreme court has been known as a champion of one cause or another." It has played a substantial role in the political movement except during times of transitions and important elections. Presidential election control the judges appointed onto the Court and sometimes the path that the Court takes (O' Brien).

would represent the aristocracy, and the House of representatives would represent the democracy.

Justices have become more liberal and rule on decisions that may not involve them. They even so far as to overriding present desires when they " declare a statute unconstitutional" (Hork). Hork accuses them of sometimes making up what is not there. He provides five examples of which the Court has demeaned itself and weakened the constitutions purpose and has ultimately empowered themselves as the sovereign authority. Using two of the cases will help to expand on his accusations. Virginia Military Institute had been an all-male school and it was protected from not admitting women by an equal protection clause for 128 years. The Court ordered this institution to admit women under the guise equal rights and anti-discrimination laws. But it is the law that was used the equal protection clause that protected the Institution for 128 years (Hork).

The weaknesses of congress are more apparent because of several factors. The increase of staff members complicated the liability of the congressman and the many committees undermined the power of the legislative system (C&G 341). Committee chairmen exercise their power by making policies and thus decentralizing the process of legislation (lecture 11/29/99). "Rubbing elbows is replaced by liaisons between legislative corporate enterprises in the 1960's" (C&G 341). Also during the 1960' and 1970's there were economic and demographic changes that required reapportionment of districts (C&G 343-344). Districts were no longer rural or urban and this introduced a diversification of matters. This in the long run has affected the president's role.

In another case a hauler had been an outspoken against the Board of County Commissioners which is not an unfamiliar practice. But the Court elevated patronage to the level of a First Amendment violation. This is an evident misapplication of the First Amendment. These cases are examples of the weakness and frivolity of the Court. Many Justices are arrogantly self ordained, impervious to arguments about its proper behavior, and unrestrained in its loose interpretation of the constitution which all can lead to a disastrous in for the reliability of the Supreme Court and its duty to reinforce democracy. These are distinct weaknesses for the judicial branch but the legislative and exe

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