

The average length of time a person owns a home in America is eight years, and the average house is 37 years old. Marriages? That average, like home ownership, is only eight years. Employment contracts are generally at will, meaning most jobs have no guaranteed length at all, and even business-to-business contracts often are for one year, with “extended” contracts running for five or sometimes ten years.
By contrast, the form of “merger agreement” signed by the representatives of the original American colonies on this date 234 years ago remains in place. It is the United States Constitution.
With a document that old, it seems impossible that its provisions remain relevant in modern times. As a simple illustration that the Constitution certainly is alive and well today, this article will list just 10 of the many constitutional provisions that had an impact on the Presidency of Donald J. Trump.
From Start to Finish
In generally chronological order, the list below shows 10 ways the Constitution signed on September 17, 1787, came into play some 230 years and 45 presidents later:
You can judge for yourself whether any of the above impacts were good or bad. Our goal here is not to cast aspersions on anyone, but simply to demonstrate that indeed the Constitution of the United States remains very relevant today. It not only still comes to our attention often in politics, but the Constitution controls what many people believe are among the most important issues in our nation.
Flexibility and Amendments
Anticipating that the United States would grow and change with the times, the signers of the Constitution carefully included provisions allowing any necessary updates. In the 234 years since, in fact, 27 amendments have been made; the most recent was in 1992.
The United States remains the oldest living democracy in the world. Using Constitutional principles, we have survived all political problems and presidencies. It could be said that only the Constitution could “make America great” like it has been. There remains hope that another 234 years and 45 more presidents from now, the same will be the case.
Written by Quentin R. Wittrock, founder of Principle Based Politics.
Look for his posts twice each week, as this blog will explore and promote the idea of principle in politics, both as to individual elected leaders and our federal government as an institution.
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