Intellectual Origins of the U.S. Constitution

The preamble to the constitution of the United States of America is declaration of imperfection. But, the declaration acknowledges room for improvement toward perfectness. This is shown by the majestic federalist opinions on matters of liberty. The federalist and the anti-federalist have one thing in common—they are both against despotism. Therefore, even in their attempts to push their federalist and anti-federalist agendas, both are careful to shun despotism. Evidence of intellectual federalist influence is visible in No’s 1, 10 and 51 of the federalist papers and on the ‘Centinel’.

            One example to support how the spirit of Federalism has had an significant impact on the framing of the constitution could be viewed in the quote from James Madison’s federalist paper that, “No man is allowed to be judge of his own cause, because his interest would bias his judgment and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.” (Madison, Federalist No.10). In view of this statement it could be concluded that the declaration of ‘we’ in the preamble acknowledges that ‘to err is man’ and that it is man also that can lead fellow man to perfectness.

            Another example of the intellectual spirit of federalism in the traces of the U.S. constitution is the announcement of the need of an autonomic but systemized system of administration. This is evident from the Federalist paper No.51 in the statement that.  “… separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government..”(Federalist No.51) is essential for the realization of liberty. This example is evident in current public administrative agendas since the operation of policy is led conduits that run hand in hand but do not mix, with the destination being one of liberalized states which is important for efficient public administration and public policy.

            The knowledge of intellectual foundations of the constitution is important because it gives a good shape of the origin of systemized pubic administration and policy toward abolishing despotic ideas.

References

Hudson, W. E. (2013). American democracy in peril: Eight challenges to America’s future (7th

ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press.

The Constitution Society. (n.d.-c). “Centinel.” Retrieved February 26, 2016,

            http://www.constitution.org/afp/centin00.htm
The Constitution Society. (n.d.-d). The Federalist. Retrieved February 26, 2016 ,

            http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa00.htm
Independence Hall Association. (2013b). Constitution of the United States. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/documents/constitution.htm