What is it mean to interpret the constitution?

Answer 1

Like anything else, interpreting the constitution refers to the meaning and intent of the words used to describe the rights and duties of the citizenry it applies to. The problem starts when society changes due to technological changes and social norms. What applied to people when the constitution was written may not apply now. There are several laws on the books of several states that are obsolete and do not apply. Yet those are enforceable in the strictest sense. For example, there may be a law in certain states that states "No woman can venture out of the house alone after dark". First, what is dark? Also it may have made sense when the colonies were forming. Today women (and men) will scorn at such a law. Similarly women were not allowed to vote according to the constitution at one time. That was changed as times changed with an amendment. So in a nutshell, interpreting is getting the real meaning and spirit behind the words that from the constitution as formulated by the original architect. Suppose for example two businessmen shake hands on a deal. Merchant A sells Merchant B a commodity for X dollars. The society in which these two merchants live requires that the payment includes delivery of the goods to Merchant B (this is the constitution). Can merchant A ship half the goods now and the other half a year later. Not every situation can be addressed in any document including the constitution. The wording is "generality". That is why we have constitutional lawyers and constitution law as a separate subject taught in law colleges. Interpreting is to get the meaning and spirit behind the wording to deal with a situation where the text can be deciphered in more than one way.