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Politics
Joseph Jones, Assistant Professor of media ethics and law at Reed College of Media, West Virginia University

“We the People” includes all Americans – but July 4 is a reminder that democracy remains a work in progress

Democracy George III America The United States
When the Constitution was written, the term 'We the People' had a very limited application for voting rights. Antenna/Getty Images

The United States’ founders firmly rejected King George III and the entire idea of monarchy 247 years ago, on July 4, 1776.

Political power does not come from some absolute authority of a king over people, the founders argued. Rather, political power comes from the people themselves. And these people must agree to any authority governing their society.

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