This sentence underscores how difficult it is to pass amendments, even ones like the ERA that had significant national support. The high threshold of state approval makes constitutional change extremely rare. Why do you think the Equal Rights Amendment failed despite strong public backing—was it due more to political resistance, timing, or flaws in the amendment process itself?

This shows that the Court resisted placing the First Amendment above other rights, even though freedoms like speech and press are often seen as central to democracy. The justices took a balancing approach, treating all constitutional rights as equally important. But should freedom of speech and press have a special priority when conflicts arise, given their role in protecting all other rights?

This sentence reminds us that the Constitution is not a detailed rulebook but a framework. It establishes boundaries for federal authority while also granting essential powers, leaving the specifics to statutory and case law. By describing it as “principally an outline,” the text underscores the flexibility of the document, which has allowed it to adapt over centuries. This balance between limiting government and enabling it is what makes the Constitution both durable and open to interpretation.

This highlights one of the most enduring features of the U.S. Constitution: the system of checks and balances. The framers understood the dangers of concentrating too much power in one branch and instead designed a structure where each branch could limit the others. This reflects a deep distrust of absolute authority, rooted in their experience with monarchy, and shows how separation of powers was seen as essential to preserving liberty. The fact that it had “wide support” demonstrates that it was one of the few principles on which most delegates agreed, making it a cornerstone of American constitutional design.