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Washington File, DC
July 12 2006
U.S. Envoy to Armenia Describes Central Role of U.S. Constitution
John Evans says Constitution provides framework for "great" national
debate
By Carolee Walker
Washington File Staff Writer
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans (State Department photo)
Washington -- The struggle to build democratic institutions and
establish democratic practices must be faced anew by every
generation, says U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans.
"Building democracy is a never-ending challenge," Evans told students
and faculty members at the American University in Yerevan, Armenia,
July 10. "Surely this is as true for my country, which has just
celebrated its two hundred and thirtieth birthday, as it is for
countries just starting to build democratic institutions."
He illustrated what that meant by describing how the U.S.
Constitution came to be amended 27 times since it took effect in
1789.
"One can truly say that the Constitution provides Americans with a
framework for a great national discussion, often as not characterized
by a clash of opposing philosophies," Evans said. "Certainly in a
society as diverse as ours, the differences of opinion are many and
at times have been deep."
The U.S. Constitution is a dynamic document, he said, in part because
the document the framers signed in Philadelphia at the Constitutional
Convention "contained within it the seeds of many future
controversies that continue to the present day."
Almost immediately after ratification - within six months, said Evans
- 10 amendments were proposed that relate to limiting the power of
the federal government. These amendments, known as the Bill of
Rights, "are cited, in some context or another, every day of our
national life," he said. They provide for freedom of speech, press,
religion, assembly, trial by jury and other rights. Although the
process of amending the Constitution is difficult, 17 more amendments
also have been added.
Beyond the amendments, there have been many interpretations of the
language of the Constitution by the courts. The Supreme Court has
"the last word in saying precisely what the Constitution really
means," Evans said.
Yet even the best-written constitution, by itself, does not create a
democracy, the ambassador said.
"There are customs, methods and procedures, in short, habits of
democracy, that put democratic flesh on the bones provided by the
basic provisions of the fundamental law. A democracy may function
minimally without these habits, but for it to flourish fully requires
that everyone play his or her part," Evans said.
Crucial habits of democracy, according to Evans, are tolerance,
honesty and responsibility.
"Participants in a democracy must show a basic level of mutual
respect for each other," he said. "Only when a citizen is willing to
listen to the opinions of others, and to entertain the possibility
that what others say will influence his thinking, does he himself
earn the right also to be heard."
Responsibility means "accepting that everyone in a democracy bears a
degree of accountability for the overall outcome, especially of his
or her own actions," including elected and appointed officials and
citizens.
Citizens are "responsible before the law, as well as bearing an
overall responsibility to inform themselves about the issues of the
day, to choose good leaders, through free and fair elections, and to
stand up for their own rights if and when they are challenged," Evans
said.
The United States Constitution is the oldest written federal
constitution in the world, and the shortest.
Evans' speech about the Constitution builds on his speech in 2005 at
American University about the U.S. Declaration of Independence and
the ideas of freedom and democracy that it embodies. (See related
article.)
The full text of the ambassador's July 10 remarks is available on the
Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.
For additional information, see U.S. Constitution.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
July 12 2006
U.S. Envoy to Armenia Describes Central Role of U.S. Constitution
John Evans says Constitution provides framework for "great" national
debate
By Carolee Walker
Washington File Staff Writer
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans (State Department photo)
Washington -- The struggle to build democratic institutions and
establish democratic practices must be faced anew by every
generation, says U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans.
"Building democracy is a never-ending challenge," Evans told students
and faculty members at the American University in Yerevan, Armenia,
July 10. "Surely this is as true for my country, which has just
celebrated its two hundred and thirtieth birthday, as it is for
countries just starting to build democratic institutions."
He illustrated what that meant by describing how the U.S.
Constitution came to be amended 27 times since it took effect in
1789.
"One can truly say that the Constitution provides Americans with a
framework for a great national discussion, often as not characterized
by a clash of opposing philosophies," Evans said. "Certainly in a
society as diverse as ours, the differences of opinion are many and
at times have been deep."
The U.S. Constitution is a dynamic document, he said, in part because
the document the framers signed in Philadelphia at the Constitutional
Convention "contained within it the seeds of many future
controversies that continue to the present day."
Almost immediately after ratification - within six months, said Evans
- 10 amendments were proposed that relate to limiting the power of
the federal government. These amendments, known as the Bill of
Rights, "are cited, in some context or another, every day of our
national life," he said. They provide for freedom of speech, press,
religion, assembly, trial by jury and other rights. Although the
process of amending the Constitution is difficult, 17 more amendments
also have been added.
Beyond the amendments, there have been many interpretations of the
language of the Constitution by the courts. The Supreme Court has
"the last word in saying precisely what the Constitution really
means," Evans said.
Yet even the best-written constitution, by itself, does not create a
democracy, the ambassador said.
"There are customs, methods and procedures, in short, habits of
democracy, that put democratic flesh on the bones provided by the
basic provisions of the fundamental law. A democracy may function
minimally without these habits, but for it to flourish fully requires
that everyone play his or her part," Evans said.
Crucial habits of democracy, according to Evans, are tolerance,
honesty and responsibility.
"Participants in a democracy must show a basic level of mutual
respect for each other," he said. "Only when a citizen is willing to
listen to the opinions of others, and to entertain the possibility
that what others say will influence his thinking, does he himself
earn the right also to be heard."
Responsibility means "accepting that everyone in a democracy bears a
degree of accountability for the overall outcome, especially of his
or her own actions," including elected and appointed officials and
citizens.
Citizens are "responsible before the law, as well as bearing an
overall responsibility to inform themselves about the issues of the
day, to choose good leaders, through free and fair elections, and to
stand up for their own rights if and when they are challenged," Evans
said.
The United States Constitution is the oldest written federal
constitution in the world, and the shortest.
Evans' speech about the Constitution builds on his speech in 2005 at
American University about the U.S. Declaration of Independence and
the ideas of freedom and democracy that it embodies. (See related
article.)
The full text of the ambassador's July 10 remarks is available on the
Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.
For additional information, see U.S. Constitution.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)