In our politically contentious era, it’s popular to claim that the Constitution is outdated; that it was drafted in a bygone era by men whose moral failings (like slave ownership) discredit every other contribution they made to the founding of our country. But each passing day only reinforces the wisdom of the principles the Founders’ chose as the basis for our nation. Here are a few to consider as we celebrate our 247th Independence Day:

∫ No. 1: Yes, the United States is a “Christian nation”; no, it is not a theocracy.

The United States was founded on distinctly Judeo-Christian principles. The Declaration of Independence states that among other “self-evident” truths, all men are “endowed by their Creator” with “certain inalienable rights,” including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

The Founders understood that the success of a country with limited government was dependent upon self-discipline born of personal virtue.

∫ No. 2: We are a democratic republic, not a democracy.

The popular accusation that any given person or public policy is “a threat to our democracy” is hyperbole and inaccurate. The United States is not a pure democracy. We are a democratic republic.

∫ No. 3: Ours is not a “majority rules” government.

Our legislative bodies were designed to avoid majoritarianism. In the U.S. Congress, for example, the composition of the House of Representatives is determined by population; the larger the population (as determined by the decennial census), the more representatives a state has. The Senate, however, provides equal representation regardless of population — two senators per state. The balance of this bicameral structure, in which legislation must pass with majority votes in both chambers, gives the citizens of smaller, more rural and less populated states a meaningful voice.

∫ No. 4: The states, not the people, elect the president.

Even more frequent than complaints about the composition of the U.S. Senate are the demands that the president of the United States be elected by the so-called popular vote, instead of the Electoral College. But, like the U.S. Senate, the Electoral College is set up to temper the political power of states with larger populations.

An important point overlooked by those panting for raw majority rule is that the United States of America is not merely a country; it is also a federation — a voluntary aggregation of independent states that have ceded only certain limited powers to the federal government.

∫ No. 5: Limits on power are features, not bugs.

Perhaps the best evidence of the Founders’ wisdom was the way they incorporated their understanding of human nature into the structure of our government. The drafters of the Constitution sought to avoid the abuse and catastrophic errors that inevitably follow the acquisition of too much power.

A system that requires the participation of political minorities not only requires that presidential candidates attract the votes of smaller states and ensures a broader consensus around laws and regulations, but means alternative ideas and approaches will be considered.

The disgruntled among us who push relentlessly for changes that would strengthen the power of raw majorities should know better. One need only look at the cities and states that have been under one-party rule for years — or decades — to see the results: Increased crime and homelessness; collapsing educational standards; the departure of residents and businesses. Without the need to consider alternative political voices, parties in the majority rarely depart from their pet policies, even when those policies produce disastrous results.

The Founders knew better. We should heed their wisdom.