The Framers carefully crafted a mechanistic Constitution in which the People are the fourth branch and, like any branch of government, an important power that must be checked and balanced. The emerging popularity of popular initiatives and the attention paid to the global information structure as a tool of self-rule evidence that representative government has somehow gone awry. A lively and powerful press has been established that is capable of informing the people of more than they ever wanted to know. Literacy has increased dramatically.
Education is available to a broader segment of society.
The franchise has been dramatically expanded. Despite these changes and countless others, the Framers' insights are not out of date, but retain their essential force. Indeed, contemporary practice reinforces the Framers' insights. The difference between the roles played by representatives making governing decisions and individuals making such decisions remains significant. While they do not always do so, the constitutional structure is rigorous and provides a standard against which representatives' performance can be critiqued.