It was on Sept. 17, 1787, that, after a monthslong process, white smoke poured out of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Well, let’s just say, for the sake of thought innovation, white smoke poured out of Independence Hall.
The great thinkers of crafting states — almost all of whom had never crafted a state before, and the five who had, had failed miserably — walked out and announced that they had indeed crafted a document that would make this union more perfect.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure (sic) domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Bill of Rights and civil liberties; the separation of powers and checks and balances; how to make, enforce, and interpret laws; the relationship between the states and the central government.
“Well, I didn’t think writing a constitution would take quite this long, but it turns out that balancing liberty, justice, and power isn’t as easy as drafting a shopping list to Central Market,” I imagine James Madison saying to the assembled press corps. “Ben Franklin swearing to not shower until an agreeable document had been drafted was a catalyst. That's inspiration. I tell no lies. But we got it all figured out in there. I suspect we’ll cruise along with few disputes for the next 237 years.”
And, of course, we’ve been arguing about it ever since, with misinterpretations, rewrites, and the such.
Hey, the best families have very lively dinner tables.
Constitution Day also brings out the creative juices of the Texas A&M Law School. Every year, the school produces a music video to mark the occasion.
So far, video has not killed the Constitution.
Here is last year’s, “It’s Been 10!”
What in the wide, wide world of Marbury has Texas A&M Law School cooked up this year?
Spurs. Tort. Memos. Contracts. Books. Transactions. Litigation. Resolution.
Enjoy, from the “Album: Problematic Sidebars.”
Oh, yeah: Whoop!