Crandi

Celebrating Freedom The Power Of Voting And Active Citizenship

Leo Migdal
-
celebrating freedom the power of voting and active citizenship

As we gather to celebrate July 4th, the anniversary of our nation’s independence, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the core principles that define America. The Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on this day in 1776, emphasizes that government derives its power from the consent of the governed, not the other way around. This foundational idea underscores the importance of active citizenship and the role of voting in preserving our freedoms. Freedom is the bedrock of American democracy. The Declaration of Independence proclaims that all men are created equal and endowed with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are protected through a system of self-governance, where the government’s authority is granted by the people it serves.

On July 4th, we celebrate not only our independence from colonial rule but also our enduring commitment to these democratic principles. This celebration reminds us that freedom is not a given; it must be actively maintained and defended. One of the most powerful tools we have to ensure our freedoms is the right to vote. Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. It is how we, the people, exercise our consent and hold our government accountable. Each vote is a voice in the chorus of our nation, influencing the direction of policies and leadership.

Voting is more than a civic duty; it’s a privilege that has been hard-won through centuries of struggle and sacrifice. When we vote, we participate in shaping the future of our communities, states, and country. Every election, from local school boards to the presidency, impacts our daily lives. By voting, we ensure that our voices are heard and that our government reflects the will of the people. It has been said that, when he was leaving the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was asked whether the Founding Fathers had given America a monarchy or a republic, and he replied: “A republic, if... Our Constitution established that our Nation would be a democracy, meaning the rule of the people — not of monarchs, the monied, or the mighty.

It gave us the separation of powers and checks and balances so that we would be a country that respects the institutions that govern a free society. And it remains the bulwark to prevent the abuse of power and ensures that “We the People” move forward together under the law. We are all responsible for maintaining our democracy — not only by adhering to the Constitution but also by our character and the habits of our hearts and minds. All of us must join the march to perfect our Union by protecting and expanding our rights with each successive generation. I believe America is at an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our Nation and the world for decades to... That is why we must continue to protect the rights guaranteed by our Constitution and the values that make our Nation who we are.

We must protect the right to vote — it is the threshold of democracy: with it, anything is possible, and without it, nothing is. Vice President Harris and I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to expand voting rights and prevent voter suppression. We will continue to work to protect women’s reproductive freedoms and their constitutional right to choose. We continue to call on the Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in Federal law once and for all. And we will continue to preserve and strengthen our democracy and will never walk away from the values that have made us the greatest Nation in the history of the world: freedom and liberty.

Today, we also celebrate the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. From those who were born in this country to our naturalized citizens, America remains a great country because we are a good people. We are a Nation of promise and possibilities, of dreamers and doers, and of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things. May we welcome our Nation’s newest citizens, whose stories embody the hope of the American Dream and whose contributions strengthen our country. On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, we recognize that the power to build a freer, more prosperous, and more just future lies in the hands of the American people. And we recommit to fulfilling the sacred tasks of our time — to ensure democracy prevails and to preserve our constitutional protections for generations to come.

🎉 Celebrate the power of your voice! 🗳️ Our latest blog post, "Celebrating Freedom: The Power of Voting and Active Citizenship," reflects on the core principles of America and the importance of voting in preserving our freedoms. As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, let's remember that freedom is not a given; it must be actively maintained and defended. Voting is more than a civic duty; it's a privilege that has been hard-won through centuries of struggle and sacrifice. 🌟 Every vote counts, and by voting, we participate in shaping the future of our communities, states, and country. 🏛️ Engage in advocacy, lobbying, and direct communication with your representatives to make your voice heard.

✊ Check out our latest blog here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eaHkUmHa This July 4th, commit to active citizenship and ensure that our government remains by the people, for the people. Happy Fourth of July! 🎆 #IndependenceDay #VotingMatters #ActiveCitizenship #Democracy #Freedom #July4th #MakeYourVoiceHeard On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine courageous American men gathered in Philadelphia to sign the U.S. Constitution, a document that would go on to become the oldest active national constitution in the world. Today, 237 years later, we commemorate this historic event on Constitution Day, also known as Citizenship Day.

This observance serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring significance of the Constitution and the timeless principles it enshrines. The U.S. Constitution is not merely a legal document; it is a profound reflection of human nature and the challenges of self-governance. The Founding Fathers recognized that man is both capable of great good and susceptible to great evil. They concluded universally that government is necessary because, without laws, society would descend into disorder. Yet, they also understood that the government itself could become a source of tyranny if not properly restrained.

The Constitution is a unique assembly of power, restraint, and authority. It was designed not only to empower government but to limit it, ensuring that it serves the people rather than rules over them. This delicate balance—between granting power and restraining it—is the genius of the Constitution. It acknowledges what man is like and what man needs: protection from harm, both from others and from the government itself, and laws to ensure justice and order. However, these laws must be accompanied by safeguards to prevent them from becoming tools of oppression. This is why the American Constitution stands as a bold exception in history—a law directly passed by the people of the United States, representing the consent of the governed.

One of the key purposes of Constitution Day is to educate citizens about the functioning of the American government. The Constitution meticulously divides power among three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—to ensure that no single branch becomes too powerful. This system of checks and balances is not just a feature of our government; it is its very essence. By studying the Constitution, we can better understand how these branches interact and why their separation is crucial to sustaining a free and just society. “Voting is your civic duty.” This is a pretty common sentiment, especially each November as Election Day approaches. But what does it really mean?

And what does it mean for Americans in particular? Typically in the United States, national elections draw large numbers of voters compared to local elections. A History of Voting in the United StatesToday, most American citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote in federal and state elections, but voting was not always a default right for... The United States Constitution, as originally written, did not define specifically who could or could not vote—but it did establish how the new country would vote.Article 1 of the Constitution determined that members of... The president, however, would be elected not by direct vote, but rather by the Electoral College. The Electoral College assigns a number of representative votes per state, typically based on the state’s population.

This indirect election method was seen as a balance between the popular vote and using a state’s representatives in Congress to elect a president.Because the Constitution did not specifically say who could vote, this... In most cases, landowning white men were eligible to vote, while white women, black people, and other disadvantaged groups of the time were excluded from voting (known as disenfranchisement). While no longer explicitly excluded, voter suppression is a problem in many parts of the country. Some politicians try to win reelection by making it harder for certain populations and demographics to vote. These politicians may use strategies such as reducing polling locations in predominantly African American or Lantinx neighborhoods, or only having polling stations open during business hours, when many disenfranchised populations are working and unable... But even so, many would-be voters faced artificial hurdles like poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures meant to discourage them from exercising their voting right.

This would continue until the 24th Amendment in 1964, which eliminated the poll tax, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which ended Jim Crow laws. Women were denied the right to vote until 1920, when the long efforts of the women’s suffrage movement resulted in the 19th Amendment.With these amendments removing the previous barriers to voting (particularly sex and... Later, in 1971, the American voting age was lowered to 18, building on the idea that if a person was old enough to serve their country in the military, they should be allowed to... history.In 2000, Al Gore narrowly lost the Electoral College vote to George W. Bush. The election came down to a recount in Florida, where Bush had won the popular vote by such a small margin that it triggered an automatic recount and a Supreme Court case (Bush v.

Gore). In the end, Bush won Florida by 0.009 percent of the votes cast in the state, or 537 votes. Had 600 more pro-Gore voters gone to the polls in Florida that November, there may have been an entirely different president from 2000–2008.More recently, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 by securing a... Although the election did not come down to a handful of votes in one state, Trump’s votes in the Electoral College decided a tight race. Clinton had won the national popular vote by nearly three million votes, but the concentration of Trump voters in key districts in “swing” states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan helped seal enough electoral votes... Most states have a “winner take all” system where the popular vote winner gets the state’s electoral votes.

There are also local and state elections to consider. While presidential or other national elections usually get a significant voter turnout, local elections are typically decided by a much smaller group of voters.A Portland State University study found that fewer than 15 percent... Low turnout means that important local issues are determined by a limited group of voters, making a single vote even more statistically meaningful.How You Can Make Your Voice HeardIf you are not yet 18,... citizen, you can still participate in the election process. You may not be able to walk into a voting booth, but there are things you can do to get involved: Participating in elections is one of the key freedoms of American life.

Many people in countries around the world do not have the same freedom, nor did many Americans in centuries past. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is important to exercise your rights. “I voted,” reads the sticker, but don’t let the simplicity of the message fool you. What else lies behind those words? “We know that the image of an active and engaged citizen is really central to people’s ideas of American identity,” Deborah Schildkraut, professor of political science, said. “I like to refer to it as an aspirational identity.

People Also Search

As We Gather To Celebrate July 4th, The Anniversary Of

As we gather to celebrate July 4th, the anniversary of our nation’s independence, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the core principles that define America. The Declaration of Independence, which was adopted on this day in 1776, emphasizes that government derives its power from the consent of the governed, not the other way around. This foundational idea underscores the importance of active citize...

On July 4th, We Celebrate Not Only Our Independence From

On July 4th, we celebrate not only our independence from colonial rule but also our enduring commitment to these democratic principles. This celebration reminds us that freedom is not a given; it must be actively maintained and defended. One of the most powerful tools we have to ensure our freedoms is the right to vote. Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. It is how we, the people, exercise our...

Voting Is More Than A Civic Duty; It’s A Privilege

Voting is more than a civic duty; it’s a privilege that has been hard-won through centuries of struggle and sacrifice. When we vote, we participate in shaping the future of our communities, states, and country. Every election, from local school boards to the presidency, impacts our daily lives. By voting, we ensure that our voices are heard and that our government reflects the will of the people. ...

It Gave Us The Separation Of Powers And Checks And

It gave us the separation of powers and checks and balances so that we would be a country that respects the institutions that govern a free society. And it remains the bulwark to prevent the abuse of power and ensures that “We the People” move forward together under the law. We are all responsible for maintaining our democracy — not only by adhering to the Constitution but also by our character an...

We Must Protect The Right To Vote — It Is

We must protect the right to vote — it is the threshold of democracy: with it, anything is possible, and without it, nothing is. Vice President Harris and I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to expand voting rights and prevent voter suppression. We will continue to work to protect women’s reproductive freedoms and thei...