From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The U.S. Constitution then and now.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The new Republican majority in the House, especially those with Tea the issues, Americans care about most. The new Republican

majority in the House, especially those with Tea Party backing, revered the Constitution as the last

word on American government. But what was read yesterday on the House floor was actually a redacted

version, one omission being the reference to a slave as three-fifths of a human being. The founding fathers

themselves disagreed over fundamental principles,

and ratification by all 13 colonies was a very close call.

So why is the original document treated like Holy Writ?

Did current arguments about government powers originate in 1776?

On reporter's notebook later on Citizen Scientist Outclass computers.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from

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whose contributors include the Ford Foundation,

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Foundation, and the Scholl Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world. Uncommon

heroes dedicated to the common good. Learn more at scole.org. Hello again, Warren Alney, back with To the Point.

Republicans now controlling the House claim the Constitution demands reductions in the size of government.

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