Question

What are the biggest challenges our U.S. Constitution faces in living up to its founding principles and how might we face them as a country?

My thesis is "The U.S. Constitution was built on clear ideas, such as, separation of powers, checks and balances, and the rule of law so no branch becomes to powerful. One of the biggest challenges to those founding principles is that leaders in Congress and the President are trying to weaken the courts, which threatens the other branches and fail to protect citizens rights. If the courts lose their independence it becomes harder to enforce laws fairly and keep the government within its limits." 

Can you fix up this paragraph and write as a simple 9th grader "The budget bill contains what money is spent on. The courts are supposed to be fair place where laws are check to make sure, they follow the Constitutin. The DBQ Source 1 states ".. a paragraph curtailing a court's greatest tool for forcing the government to obey its rulings: the power to enforce contempt findings." It also notes ".. shows how much those in power in the nation's capital are thinking about the consequences of defying judges" also President Trump "he attacked the U.S. Supreme Court." He did that after it blocked a government deportation policy. Court use contempt powers so they can make sure the government follows courts orders. The article shows both lawmakers and the President reacting against court decisions. When political leaders try to block courts from enforcing rulings or attack the courts, it makes it harder for the judicial branch to do its job. That weakens the rule of law."

Also can you add a third paragraph connecting back to the thesis, write as a simple 9th grader

Answer 1

The budget bill decides how government money is spent. Courts are supposed to be fair places where laws are checked to make sure they follow the Constitution. DBQ Source 1 says the bill contains "a paragraph curtailing a court's greatest tool for forcing the government to obey its rulings: the power to enforce contempt findings." It also says this shows "how much those in power in the nation's capital are thinking about the consequences of defying judges." After the Supreme Court blocked a government deportation policy, President Trump "attacked the U.S. Supreme Court." Courts use contempt powers so they can make sure the government follows court orders. The article shows both lawmakers and the President reacting against court decisions. When political leaders try to block the courts from enforcing rulings or attack the courts, it becomes harder for the judicial branch to do its job, and that weakens the rule of law.

This connects to my thesis because the Constitution was built on separation of powers, checks and balances, and the rule of law. If the courts lose their independence or their power to enforce decisions, they cannot check the President and Congress. That makes it easier for one branch to get too powerful and harder to protect citizens’ rights. To keep the Constitution working, leaders and citizens should defend judicial independence: lawmakers should not strip courts of enforcement tools, presidents should respect court decisions, and voters should hold officials accountable when they attack the courts.