Role of the United States Constitution
“In early 1787, Congress called for a special convention of all the states to revise the Articles of Confederation” (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 2009, ¶1). The result from this meeting was the birth of the U.S. Constitution. This document is the leading law of the U.S. Federal Government. It sets the basic rights of citizens and impacts business regulation of U.S companies (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 2009).
“The Constitution established three separate branches of government—Legislative (Article I), Executive (Article II), and Judicial (Article III)” (Mecham, 2001, p. 9). These branches function “within a constitutional system known as checks and balances” (Mecham, 2001, p. 9) meaning that although properly separated from each other, each branch has particular constitutional power to examine the dealings of each others legal system in business regulation (Mecham, 2001).
The development of the U.S. legal system in business regulation is to promote growth and expand opportunities. It encourages companies “to invest, improve productivity and create jobs” (National Center for Policy Analysis, 2003, ¶1). These opportunities need to abide all laws and regulatory environment. They include the “protection of property rights, access to credit, and efficient judicial, taxation and customs systems” (National Center for Policy Analysis, 2003, ¶1) all while respecting criminal and civil laws. The U.S. Government uses the legal system of the Bill of Rights to protect all involved (National Center for Policy Analysis, 2003).
“The Bill of Rights is set forth as the first ten amendments to the Constitution” (Mecham, 2001, p. 9). It spells out the rights of all citizens. The Bill guarantees the basic rights of the people protecting them from unlawful actions by the government. These basic rights include “such matters as free speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to seek redress of...