chapter 2

1.)    The Articles of the Confederation were the first initial governing authority of the United States which gave Congress limited basic powers such as disputes between states, coin money, and establish post offices. The Article’s united the thirteen separate states and established the United States of America. Most powers lied within State Legislature. The primary disadvantage was the limited power that Congress held over the states that led to each state selfishly looking out for themselves which often affected the majority vote within Congress and thus making other states suffer greatly.  The switch to the Constitution made governing much easier and gave majority power to congress to make over all decisions that affected everyone. The Constitution established separation of powers, checks and balances, and further added a judiciary system to help ensure self-interest or dishonesty were not issues.

2.)    The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the constitution which provide our basic political rights.  Without the Bill of Rights, we as citizens would be voiceless, powerless, and have no say in today’s government and law making. Also, many citizens’ ideas, beliefs, and religion in today’s America would be suppressed.  We would be unable to voice our opinions on political issues and the right to protest or petition laws and politics that we as individuals believe to be unfair or unconstitutional would not be possible. In order to protect our rights, I believe that the Bill of Rights is extremely crucial in the type of national government that we now have. These ten amendments give us freedom, give us a voice, and also protect us from unjust legal proceedings. Without the Bill of Rights the United Sates would undoubtedly be in an extreme state of unrest and revolt may possibly occur - just as it did when our founders fought for independence against the suppression of Great Britain.

3.)    Is capital punishment constitutional? I personally do agree with the death penalty and sometimes feel that the judicial system is somewhat lenient with the sentences that are given to people convicted of heinous crimes, such as murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a child. If a person is so cruel that they can commit these senseless crimes, unless proven beyond a doubt to have a mental disease that caused this behavior, I do think that the option of the death penalty as punishment should be visited. I do not believe that federal government should make a law requiring all states to hand down capital punishments; this should be determined by state legislature, as it is now.  When a person is tried for a crime, they are tried by a jury of their peers. If capital punishment is legal in that state, I do agree that the jury made of the defendants peers should be the ones to recommend or decide the punishment whether it be life imprisonment or the death penalty.  Ultimately the matter of capital punishment boils down to personal conviction, and in my personal conviction I do believe the death penalty is constitutional.