Document InterpretationTaxes and Constitutions

Common sense by Thomas Paine

1. Society and government are two different ideas that generated from our wants and
our wickedness separately. For me, I could hardly distinct the difference between
society and government. Know I learn that the origin of this two issues are different
2. Society is ever blessing because it units peoples affections and promote people
positively While government is evil because it restrains peoples vice and cause
distinctions. This idea is very fascinating. Because the origins of these two ideas
are different, the functions vary in accordance with the origins.
3. Heathen firstly introduce the government by kings into the world. AS far as Thomas
is concerned, it is an crucial step that devil set for the promotion of idolatry. Idolatry
is very scary to some extent because, people could be easily be brainwashed by it.
4. When the government approaches the republic, the king has less business to do with
the government. Thus, it is hard to define the England government. Where the
crown has a high level of saying in the country. In addition to that, the English
government is more like monarchy.
5. Thomas proposed a very enlightening question: With the principles of nature and
common sense, the American has to find out the connection between them and
Britain. Further, American needs to find its own faith when they are independent.
6. Thomas is convinced that America would be more flourished without European
power because the commerce in America could enrich herself while European
seems fancy eating as their custom.
7. Despite England called themselves as the mother country, Thomas take America as
the asylum of the Europe where all the persecuted people fled to. England and other
European countries are the tyrannies drove them away and pursue their next
generations. This metaphor is very vivid. Although the European country did not
take themselves as tyrannies, what they do is tyranny.
8. Thomas think that there is a great urgency for America separating from Britain
because whenever there is a war between Britain and other countries, Americas
trade would be influenced. I find this point fascinating is because, Thomas
emphasize the commerce and trade which means that he realized that wealth is of
great importance to a countrys independence.
9. Thomas tried to convince people that heaven never design that a power of the
 country over another country. This is a very advancing ideology. It is the first step
toward the universal equality.
10. Thomas argued that America is a continent while England is just an island belongs
to Europe. Thus it is very absurd applying the ideology that England would protect
America. I find this point very interesting. Firstly, I have never heard this idea
before and secondly it is so true. I mean, America is large and good in many aspects,
it does not need any protection from a small island, namely, England.

The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription

1. The congress of the United States is composed of a Senate and House of

Representatives. IT has the logistical power. I learned it before. I was fascinated by
this political system. I think the Senate represent the elite ideas while the House of
representatives represent the common people.
2. There is a strict rule selecting representative. The age limitation indicates that the
representative must be mature enough to represent others both verbally and
mentally. The time limits of being a American Citizen illustrates that their
responsible for the people of United States. It is only those who really know this
country could be representative.
3. Each state would have two senators and they constitute the Senate. Each senator
has one vote and is chosen form Legislature. It worth to point out that they are not
chosen by the legislature instead of the vote of common people. Thus, I would like
to regard it as the elite political institution.
4. I noticed that the Congress shall assemble at least once every year. What interested
me the most is the date of the meeting. It is on the first Monday in December. Instead
of giving out a specific date, the constitutes used the weekdays to describe the date
of the meeting.
5. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and
Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general
Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform
throughout the United States. I choose not to paraphrase this sentence because I
really like the statement. It illustrates the duty of the congress clearly.

6. A president of the United States of America has the executive power. In addition to
 that, a term of the president is 4 years. I choose this because it is different from
Chinas presidents term. It is usually 5 years.
7. The president of the United States is the Commander in Chief of the Army and
Navy of the United States. This illustrates that, besides the executive power, the
president has the military power.
8. The Judicial Power lays in the Supreme Court. Each department has their own
power which contribute to an objective view or law that would facilitate the
development of America.
9. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and
judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws
prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be
proved, and the Effect thereof. I choose this term because it shows the high
autonomy of each states. This is very fascinating because there were no such kind
of government existed before. It is truly republic.

10. The United States will protect each states from invasion and domestic Violence.
Though each states seems independent to each other, they all connect to each other
under the protection of the Federal Government of the United States.