In America, a significant number of citizens fear that the alteration of the United States Constitution would subvert what serves as the safeguard for citizens’ rights. This concern has arisen from the unremitting controversies over the principles presented in the Constitution and the manner in which the document should be interpreted. However, in a Time Magazine article, Richard Stengel invalidates such fears, arguing that the United States is not facing, and has not yet faced, a constitutional crisis due to the Constitution’s inherent capacity for change. According to Richard Stengel’s “One Document, Under Siege,” the Constitution of the United States is a living document in that the nature of the document demands debate and modification.…show more content… In “One Document, Under Siege,” Stengel affirms, “The framers weren’t afraid of a little messiness. Which is another reason we shouldn’t be so delicate about changing the Constitution or reinterpreting it. It was written in a spirit of change and revolution and turbulence. It was not written in stone” (Stengel). This statement underscores the manner in which the Founding Fathers established the Constitution with the expectation of its alteration. Thus, the way the Constitution was constructed allowed for it to be altered when necessary so that it could be fit to address the issues that every generation of American citizens face. In accordance, within his article, Stengel claims that the United States Constitution was created in a manner that would necessitate its amendment as time would go on. He writes, “For better or for worse-and I would argue that it is for better- the Constitution allows and even encourages deep arguments about the most basic democratic issues” (Stengel). Stengel implies that the essence of the Constitution provides for debate concerning the principles and precedents established by the document. Such debate would involve varying interpretations of the Constitution, thus resulting in the requisite of modification. Since the Constitution is said to encourage debate, it
