Selected document: US Constitution. analyze the US Constitution. In analyzing this excerpt, you will look for: 1.The purpose and historical context, 2. The key points/ themes of the text, 3. Rhetorical features: how the rhetoric supports the thoughts/ culture/ society of the time - persuasive techniques - who is not supported by the rhetoric in this document?, 4. Find an example of how your selected was applied to a court case: requires research and briefly describe the court case and explain how your document and the themes, purpose, rhetoric, etc, was pertinent or applicable to the court case, 5. clear evidence/ examples to support your claims regarding purpose, context, theme, and rhetorical features. write me a 600 word essay including all of these points and answer the question (what did the author(s) believe, and how did they arrive at those conclusions?

The United States Constitution, the oldest written national framework of government in the world, was constructed in the summer of 1787. The purpose of the Constitution was to establish a stronger federal government to replace the weak national government under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution was a product of conflicting views, heated debates, and thoughtful reconsiderations.

The key points of the Constitution include the establishment of a republican form of government, the separation of powers into three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—and the system of checks and balances. It also outlines the federal system, dividing power between the national government and the states.

The Constitution employs rhetorical features that reflect the thoughts, culture, and society of the time. The framers used common law techniques for interpreting legal texts, which were adapted to the U.S. Constitution once it became a legal document¹. These techniques, known as topoi or “topics,” are tools for analyzing legal problems and generating legal arguments¹. However, the Constitution was not a democracy in the modern sense. The framers reluctantly accepted slavery, and there were property qualifications for voting. Some states denied the right to vote to religious minorities, and women did not get to vote in national elections until 1920.

One example of how the Constitution was applied to a court case is the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison (1803). This case established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to strike down laws on the grounds that they are unconstitutional. The case was pertinent to the Constitution as it highlighted the checks and balances system, demonstrating the judiciary's power to check the legislature by declaring laws unconstitutional.

In conclusion, the authors of the Constitution believed in a strong federal government, a system of checks and balances, and a division of power between the national government and the states. They arrived at these conclusions through rigorous debate and compromise, reflecting the societal norms and values of their time. However, the Constitution also shows the limitations of its time, particularly in its initial lack of inclusivity. Over the centuries, amendments have been made to rectify these shortcomings, demonstrating the Constitution's capacity for growth and change.