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How does the Constitution force Americans to compromise?

To be precise, the Constitution does not actually force Americans to compromise.  However, it does make it more likely that they will have to do so.  The Constitution does this because it sets up a system of checks and balances in our government.


Because of the way our Constitution sets up the government, power is divided among various governmental bodies.  Most obviously, power is divided between the House, the Senate, and the Executive Branch, which is led by the President.  In addition, states have some powers that the national government cannot take away from them.  Because of this, Americans are more likely to have to compromise.


Americans are more likely to have to compromise because people with the same ideas will not always control the House, the Senate, the Executive Branch, and the state governments.  Right now, for example, Republicans control the House and the Senate while the President is a Democrat.  In order for any law to be passed, both the Republicans who control Congress and the President must agree.  This means that they are more likely to have to compromise.


In reality, Americans still do not actually have to compromise.  We see this today as the Republicans and the Democrats have had a hard time passing any significant legislation.  They do not want to compromise, so they are willing to simply avoid passing laws.  However, our Constitution does make it more likely that they would compromise.  Our Constitution tells them that they will often have to compromise if they want to make any laws.  By setting up a system in which multiple governmental bodies have powers and in which those bodies can be controlled by different political parties, the Constitution makes it more likely that Americans will have to compromise. 

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