Shortly after the signing of the Constitution, a Mrs. Powell of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, what have we got?” Without hesitation, Dr. Franklin answered, “a republic, if you can keep it.”

With seven words, spoken outside the Pennsylvania State House in the late summer of 1787, Benjamin Franklin defined the United States’ new form of government — a republic guaranteed by a Constitution — and alluded to the challenge of protecting and preserving it.

Recommended Stories

Supreme Court will examine racial redistricting law as other states consider new maps

Gerrymandering is bad. Supreme Court is right not to fix it

Virginia receives a ‘C’ on its redistricting process