An Analysis of the Unintended Consequences of the United States Constitution

Abstract

Revolutionaries throughout the globe have helped establish some of the most complex forms of governments, including that of the United States democratic republic. The United States Constitution has continuously evolved over time, from its conception to the modern era. Constitutional Amendments have been made in an attempt to keep up with the evolving world, but what happens when a new issue arises that has never been discussed before? There are a plethora of ideas that the United States’ Founding Fathers could not have fathomed at the creation of the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment’s Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion clauses, as well as the Fourth Amendment’s implicit Right to Privacy clause, have resulted in dissent over the past two centuries on the meanings of them and how we, as a country, should interpret them. Should we choose to interpret the United States Constitution with strict or loose constructionism? Or should the law be looked at solely as a case by case basis on whether or not strict or loose interpretation of the Constitution applies? Through the analysis of Supreme Court cases, legal precedents, and historical trends, we will dive into the true meaning of the Constitution and how to interpret it in modern times when compared to its original intent.