Contrast to the common belief, the mighty American Constitution framed in 1787 that is known as one of the most oldest and powerful constitutions of the world, was not entirely formed for the benefits and general welfare of the masses rather it was framed by the influencers of that time who under questionable circumstances and with questionable faith framed the Constitution of America to protect their interests.
After declaring independence from Britain in 1776, the founders of the nation set down to frame the supreme law of the land. In 1777, Congress submitted the nation’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation however the independent United States, which were following different commerce trade and other laws found it difficult to progress with the same laws. So as to resolve the problems within states, delegates from most of the states met at the Annapolis Convention in 1786. When nothing was resolved, they agreed to reconvene in 1787 at a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. At this second convention, it was quickly decided that an entirely new constitution was needed rather than just a revision to the Articles.
However behind the scenes were the minds of elitist class who after Shay’s Rebellion became very much conscious of the need of the hour to protect the rights of propertied class from the impulse of property less and yet at the same time establish and preserve the spirit and form of popular government.
The framers as has been mentioned in the writings of James Madison, were completely determined that it is the right of the privileged class, the persons of birth and fortune who should control the affairs of the nation and to keep in check the impulses of the property less masses and to protect the private rights from the infringement of the masses. With this very notion in mind the framers of American Constitution wrote the most powerful document of the country with the inherent contrast of protecting the private and property rights of the few from the infringement of the majority faction and at the same time preserving the spirit of popular government. Their task then was to construct a government that would win some popular support but would not tamper with the existing class structure, a government strong enough to service the growing needs of an entrepreneurial class while withstanding the democratic demands of the popular class. Thus, the elitist with the intention of protecting their interests framed a constitution which was to preserve the notion and form of public government but only without tampering or hampering the interests of the upper class and so the origin of democracy embedded in the constitutional framework of America was designed as a controlled democracy serving the interests of the ‘few’ while managing the ‘others’.
In contemporary world, where United States holds the position of flag bearer of modern democracy it is more imperative than ever to deconstruct the ground realities in which the very foundations of this democracy were laid in United States. Even to date, US with Bill of Rights and other ratifications in its constitution, 27 in total, has little room for reflection of the interests of the masses since the role of lobbyists, elites, politicians and men of power is evident and they have so much influence over the politics and laws of US that it is very hard for a bill, representing the interests of masses to pass as a ruling and to become a part of the constitution.
