Question

Is the U.S. Constitution an Inherently progressive document?

Chapters 1 - 3 should have provided you a grounding by which to answer the above question. You read about the ideals that lead to the American Revolution, the crafting of the U.S. Constitution, and the complexities of federalism, so now please read the following exchange (Links to an external site.1*) with Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law professor at UC Berkeley. I also suggest you listen to this podcast on The Ezra Klein Show titled The Constitution is a Progressive Document (Links to an external site.2**).

* https://www.vox.com/2018/12/18/18127273/american-constitution-erwin-chemerinsky-we-the-people

** https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/vox/the-ezra-klein-show/e/63233142

Answer 1

First of all, Progressivism is a political philosophy in support of social reform. It is based on the idea of progress in which advancements in science, technology, economic development and social organization are vital to the improvement of the human condition.

• The Constitution Is Inherently Progressive

Progressives disagree strongly with tea party views on government, taxation, public spending, regulations and social welfare policies. But we credit the movement for focusing public debate on our nation’s history, the Constitution and the core beliefs that shape American life.

Successive generations of progressives worked to turn these values into practice and give meaning to the American dream, by creating full equality and citizenship under law and expanding the right to vote. We sought to ensure that our national government has the power and resources necessary to protect our people, develop our economy and secure a better life for all Americans.

Progressives rightly charge that conservatives often mask social Darwinism and a dog-eat-dog mentality in a cloak of liberty, ignoring the needs of the least well-off and the nation as a whole.