Fourth of July, also called Independence Day, which is when Americans celebrate the independence of the North American colonies from Great Britain. We celebrate American independence on July 4 because the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on that date in 1776, although it was not signed until about a month later. Everyone knows the preamble (“We hold these truths to be self-evident . . . .”), but the document contains much more, including a list of 27 colonial grievances against the King. Some are blunt and resentful—for example, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people,” and he has enacted “pretend Legislation” and “transport[ed] us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses.” Other grievances address governance more directly, including that the King “has refused to Assent to Laws . . . necessary for the public good,” has refused to establish “Judiciary Powers,” and has “made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices.”
We take this walk through history mainly for the fun of it, but also because many of these grievances echo through the Constitution that was ratified 12 years later, and they still resonate in our legal system today. Elected officials enact laws “for the public good,” or at least a vision of “good” that is good enough to get the votes. We also have federal judges, who serve for life, without depending on the will of others “for their...
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