, 1923-09-23
BY GEO. w. JARVIS

The Constitution of tho United
States is a written instrument am
bodying the organic law and laying
down fundamental rules and princi-
pes for the conduct of the nations
affairs. 1t belongs to the so-called
rigid constitutions and cannot be
modified in it's express terms except
through such processes as the con-
stitution itself ordains-this in con-
trast to tho British constitution
which belongs TO the unwritten class
and can be changed by any ordinary
act of parliament. Gradual and es'
sentiaily unconscious changes take
place in the effect given TO both
forms through the development of
law by the judiciary. Cooley defines
a constitution as "the body OF rules
and maxlms in accordance with
which the powers of government are
perpetually exercised.
Tho United States Constitution
vas framed at Philadelphia in 1897
by n convention called because of
the utter breakdown and chaotic
condition of affairs of government
under the Articles of Confederation.
It was adopted and signed Septem-
her IT, 1887, 1876 years ago last Mon
day, by the representatives Of all of
the thirteen original states except
Rhode Island. By August. 1888, 1t
had been ratified by eleven states
and went into effect between them.
Article 1, Immediately following
the preamble, takes up the legisla-
tive powers. dividing of the legis'a-
- -- - a.. -,.~1r-1aanf into
two houses, designating the powers
Of the legislature and providing the
method to DO used in the passage OF
business.
Article 2 provides for our chief
executive. designating his powers
and defining his duties.
Article 3 provides for our supreme
court, prescribing its duties and de-
filming its powers.
Article 4 takes up the relationship
of the state to the union.
Article 5 provides for the amend
ing Of tho constitution and provides
for a vote Of three-fourths OF the
states of the Union being necessary
before the constitution can be
amended.
ArIlCl6 . TdNlllGu Nho phSS INV
future Indebtedness, declared h
constitution the supreme law OF the
land. and required all officials. legis'
lators and Judges of tho United
sintes and the severa. states 10 be
bound by oath to support tho con
rtitution.
Article 7 Is the rrticis egnlizing
the constitution when nino OF The
sirtes had r. iifie,l IL.
Amendme as l to 10. known as
the Bill OF Rights. defining more
specifically the civic rights Of cltiz-
ems, were ratified by IL states, be-
tween November 20. 1879, and De.
csmber is, 1871. Amendments IL
and IL We're adopted in 1898 snd
1903, respectively. Tho former pre-
vents the individual suing the
state. while the latter provides for
the of the election OF the
president and vice president.
Amendments 10. II and 10 were
adopted in 1865. 1866 and 1870. res.
psctively. and were to meet the un-
usual conditions resulting from the
Civil <tr, and dealt with reconstruc-
ton and slavery.
Amendment 10, effective Febru.
AIRY %. 1913, was the income tax
amendment.
Amendment IT. effective May 81.
1928. provided for tho election Of
United States Senators by direct vote
OF the people instead Of by the state
legislatures.
The enactment OF the much mali.
gned 18th Amendment. on January
1s. 1920. is still fresh IN the memory
Of the most forgettul citizen, mas.