[tsimionescu]

The basic fact that needs to be contended with is that the Constitution, however brilliantly it may be crafted or repaired, is a piece of paper. It has no agency to enforce or do anything else. It's always people who have to decide to do things, maybe under inspiration from this paper or another. So whether the Constitution say "Congress must impeach a President who is doing this or that" vs "may impeach", that would have 0 practical impact.

Consider that most totalitarian states have constitutions that explicitly forbid torture, discrimination, and many other forms of government suppression of people. This does little in the face of a police state bent on suppressing the people.

[blackcatsec]

Wanted to reply though it's been 10 days! You are correct. But the one thing the words do is lend credibility to the eventual overthrow of the terrible regime, by allowing the words to be used to back that overthrow. In the hearts and minds of people, this is important.

I think in practical terms I think it helps limit the extent of the damage by giving everyone a social contract that they can point to in order to keep the "others" in check. In reality it's pretty variable. But I suspect having agreed upon social contracts tilt the odds towards the favored outcome over extended datasets. If that makes sense.