Why a Written Constitution? [No. 86]

Professor Lillian BeVier describes the process of drafting and the ratification of the Constitution. The most obvious reason that the Constitution had to be written down was that it needed to be studied by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and sent to the various states. But an equally and perhaps more important reason, was that the Founders knew that a new government needed a written and enforceable structure to preserve freedom for themselves and future generations.

Professor Lillian BeVier is the David and Mary Harrison Distinguished Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Virginia School of Law. Professor BeVier taught constitutional law (with special emphasis on First Amendment issues), intellectual property (trademark, copyright), real property and torts from 1973-2010 at the Law School, and now teaches a January Term course on judicial philosophy.

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

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[andinbriwel]

I pray we remember the Constitution as our basis of law in this current time. Too many rules that violate the constitution are being made based on emotion, and too many people are thinking that’s somehow ok.

[Ajsirb]

Because that's how documents were formed...

[huddless]

Why the inaccuracies? Rhode Island didn't attend and the initial reason was to "amend the articles of confederation." I'm sure I read that somewhere? The "amending" idea may have been a subterfuge cooked up during the Annapolis convention tho?

Why? Because we all know, TYRANTS look for loopholes to RAPE THE PEOPLE.

[DeauCeVDonna]

well they wrote it in a bar on a bender. I don't think they knew much about foreign policy and i would say it turned out alright.