美國的制憲－－大妥協的產物

U.S. Constitution: A Product of Great Compromise

美國的憲法是人類第一部成文憲法，也是We the people第一次寫入人類的憲法中，它也產生前所未見的國家治理模式。面對關於美國憲法各種不同的評價，本文希望能詳加檢視美國制憲的過程與意我，驗證一般的刻板印象或是既有的粗略概念，同時希望能找出新的啟發。制憲是一個民族性格與民主性格的養成。美國制憲的大安協確立美國立國精神，認清利益必然衝突的本質。只有制定有輸有贏的機會和制度才能長治久安。安協是為了讓競爭繼續，為自己也讓別人有副本的機會。另外，美國制憲給我們的啟示是，除了底層人民的熱情與決心外，上層菁英的智慧與論述能力更是成功的關鍵。

The U.S. Constitution is recognized as the first written constitution in republic form of human history. It has received different comments, from miracle, masterpiece, to a rough negotiation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the historical background of this constitution and to discuss the making process and all controversial issues involved. The findings suggest that mainly because of the great compromise achieved in the Constitutional Convention which included compromises of big and small states, north and south states. Through the great compromise, the U.S. government was produced and started an experiment that lasted more than three centuries.