Separation of Powers
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Separation of Powers
During the interview, Attorney General Edwin Meese reiterated the principle that informed the birth and subsequent changes to the American Constitution. Meese notes that recognizing that the Constitution has a meaning defines its administrative facet. He notes that the Constitution defines the principles that the government ought to abide by to ensure that the liberty of the American people is preserved. Meese states that the Constitution is meant to protect the people from government excesses by providing separation of powers, checks, and balances and inculcating the concept of federalism in the government’s operations.
Differently, Eugene Thomas views the Constitution from a literal perspective. Thomas explains that the Constitution is a living document that allows American people to live and work with it. From this statement, Thomas implies that the Constitution as a living document accommodates changes as American cements its status as a superior democracy. According to Thomas, the Supreme Court is responsible for giving the Constitution the living status through various interpretations as times change.
In 2018, both perspectives of Meese and Thomas were in play. On the one hand, the Constitution has issues pertaining to strict interpretation of the Constitution while on the other it has literal interpretation issues. The American Constitution legalized gay marriages which is a step towards liberalizing the society. However, the American law is becoming stricter regarding the issue of immigration. Since 2016, many immigrants have been deported while those seeking have been faced with stringent entry measures. Therefore, the two perspectives seem to be opposing each other in a changing society. Indeed, the judiciary should interpret the Constitution in light of changing times. This is because the society is becoming more diverse and there is need to accommodate all members of the American society within the precincts of law.