Peaceful revolution: the genius of staggered elections
In most countries on earth when people feel they have had enough with their government, their only recourse is to resort to the barrel of the gun. People go into the streets, put their lives on the line as they did recently in Iran. This type of transformation of power indicated an unstable nation not based on a strong foundation of a constitutional representative government.
Our brilliant educated founders who understood history and human nature have blessed America. They formed a constitutional republic with checks and balances to limit the power of government officials. One of the most obvious although often overlooked features to this document is staggered elections. One third of our Senators are elected every 2 years serving a term of 6 years. All congressmen are elected every two years and the presidential election takes place every 4 years.
George Washington, our first president, could have finagled to be the monarch of the USA, instead he established the example for all future presidents the limit of two terms. After a bitter campaign with Thomas Jefferson, then president John Adams cemented the peaceful turning over the power of the United States to his bitter rival. Rather than retaining personal power, these patriots set the precedence for the good of the nation’s future.
An orderly exchange of power has been altruistically established by these great men and has led to a nation of political stability and internal peace.
These staggered elections allow citizens to directly express their approval or disapproval of their representatives. This one element of our constitution gives a direct voice to the people to steer the current administration’s policy. National elections of representatives held every two years make it impossible for any administration to deviate too long from the will of the people. Citizens have the freedom given to them by the Constitution to voice their objections to the policies of the current leaders.
The Tea Party movement is a natural extension of our constitutional tradition of representatives being the servants of the people, not their rulers. The power of the people to organize was recognized by our founders as a positive means of putting the brakes on an over ambitious national government. Citizens of America should not be at the mercy of the whims of government.
Our national government was intentionally divided into three federal branches. The Constitution gives the states control of all functions except those specifically enumerated for the states. These checks and balances limit the power of the federal government.
Our citizens should have no fear or reluctance to ask questions and expect reasonable and logical answers from their representatives. The founders intentionally fostered the responsibility and right of citizens to object whenever any branch of government grabs too much power.
When citizens see their representatives disregard the will of the people, they have the protected right under the Bill of Rights to free speech and to assembly. Gathering and marching in Washington was condoned and encouraged by our founders to allow citizens to be heard by their servants, the representatives in government. This is a legally sanctioned means of getting the attention of our elected officials. It is our duty as Americans to inform our representatives of our will.
The American public has the power in a peaceful way to change course thanks to our Constitution. Our congressional representatives who have sworn to uphold the Constitution can ignore the people’s outcries for only a 2-year duration. No matter the margin of victory in the last election in both branches of government a large portion of them will answer directly to the voters after 2 years. This is an ingenious way of keeping our representatives following our direction.
The only way conditions for a violent revolution could occur in the USA would be when citizens do not do their civic duty. Government elites can attempt to radically move to change the direction of the country at their own peril. Freedom of a nation comes with many responsibilities.
When the people are conscientiously doing their civic duty the representatives will be on their toes to insure the liberties of the people or be fired. The citizens involved in researching and voting in elections translates into our country remaining free.
The power in the hands of citizens granted by our Constitution makes possible a peaceful revolution every two years.
America has been blessed with peace and prosperity. We need to do our part to keep our liberty. VOTE.
Dr. Maglio is the author of Invasion Within and Essential Parenting. He is a psychotherapist and the owner/director of Wider Horizons School. Visit: www.drmaglio.com.
