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Rawlins Civics 101 - Page 2
(Governance Structure) Comments on the technical form and function of governments affecting Rawlins, Wyoming.
Please note that the following commentary consists of observation, evaluation and consequent opinion.
Differing observations, interpretations and resulting opinions are welcomed and encouraged.
Such are the object and value of discourse.
Let's Talk!
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Describing "governance structure" is akin to the children's game "Telephone" where a simple phrase evolves through a relay of a dozen telling and listening exchanges. The final telling rarely resembles the original.
The ecology of governance evolution resembles the game's progress and inevitable results.
Victors write the books which indoctrinate the readers who will, in their turn, educate the next in line, who will strive in conflict to determine who writes the following generation of books.
It is the Ouroboros, the snake eating it's own tail.
(This commentary is an entertaining field. Please comment to expand the conversation.) |
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Summary
During our revolutionary war, the colonial rebels formed a coalition titled the "Continental Congress", followed by the "2nd Continental Congress" to coordinate their war.
When the rebellion prevailed, in 1777 the newly independent States
formed an initial "league of friendship" alliance of independent States
titled:
"Articles
of Confederation and
perpetual Union between the States of Newhampshire, Massachusetts-bay,
Rhodeisland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina,
South Carolina, and Georgia stiled The United States of America"
On March 1, 1781, the "Congress of the Confederation"
was formed. A brief, spirited and controversial period immediately
followed, culminating in secret negotiations that birthed the "Constitution for the United States of America" in 1787.
The form of the governments of The United States of America and the
independent States of the united States is republican. A republic is a
government in which political and supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
At the adoption of the "Constitution for The United States of America", the structure consisted of the thirteen republican "States" and the newly created republican government for the united States of America. The new republic therefore, was composed of fourteen republics with similar, but not identical purpose.
American governments are not "democracies".
When the State republics and The United States of America developed
individual constitutions, they created constitutional republics with
limited democratic processes.
The intended purpose and function of "The United States of America"
was to provide a unified presence for the States of the united States
in the international community and to harmonize common interests
between the independent member States within the united States
community.
In creating "The United States of America", endowed
with limited powers, defined duties and certain prohibitions, the
(independent) States of the united States did not surrender their
individual autonomous sovereignty and unlimited powers.
(The Constitution's supremacy clause pertained to only those powers specifically defined and delegated by the States.)
The initial relationship between the republican government of "The
United States of America" and the republican governments of the
thirteen independent States could not and did not form a "master-subject federal" governing association.
(That conversion would be affected by the war between the seceding States and The United States of America.
- - - Continuing work in progress - - - -> Page 3
The contradictions and capriciousness of principle and practice
for governance continually challenge Americans.
We are Rawlins We have options. If we talk.
We can learn from our past and
develop an awareness of our future options.
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