GOP representatives reading the Constitution aloud in the House sounded reasonable but began with verbal battles. After one editorial in the New York Times called it “a presumptive and self-righteous act,” FOX and Friends headlined, “Left Attacks GOP for Reading Constitution on House Floor.”

A more perfect, fair and balanced report would have mentioned the request a week earlier by democratic congressman Brad Sherman to include Democrats. Collegially, 73 Republicans and 62 Democrats alternated reading sections. “Reflecting on the Constitution in a bipartisan way is a good way to start the year,” said an enthusiastic representative, Gabrielle Giffords.

Out of respect for her spirit of bipartisanship, the House adjourned for the week.

Their enthusiasm led me to read it. Surprises entertained me as respect for the framers grew. Hope also flourished that their achievement to craft the Constitution inspires us to make progress while accepting differences that divide us.

Choosing a version to read led to USConstitution.net, a website visited by 20,339,564 people. It presents original text with superseded text in italics followed by links to amendments, along with notes, history and a glossary.

The brevity of the Preamble surprised me, but the power of its purpose echoed from my schooling: more perfect union, justice, domestic tranquility, common defense, general welfare and blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity.

Mundane issues seemed out of place, such as when Congress meets and dividing election years for the first Senators. Other details were divisive such as agreeing on the original number of representatives for each state, apportioning persons as 3/5^ths of a free person and agreeing to return those committed to labor in another state.

The short list of presidential powers surprised me. They include serving as commander-in-chief, requesting the opinion in writing of officers of the executive departments, granting pardons and filling vacancies during Congressional recesses. The president from time to time should give Congress information on the state of the union and recommend for their consideration necessary and expedient measures. Where did massive presidential power come from, or is it an illusion?

The Constitution emboldens a strong legislature to fulfill the purposes of the preamble, tax, borrow, regulate commerce among the states, create uniform rules of naturalization and bankruptcies, declare war, retaliate against other nations short of war, raise and support armies “for no longer term than two years.” (I’d like to see conflicts limited to two years).

Finally, Congress may “make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the forgoing powers, and all other powers vested by this constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.”

That encompassing phrase for the broad purposes in the preamble enables mischievous, constitutional legislation. After 13 states had ratified the Constitution, the tenth amendment limited that power: “The powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Reading an unabridged version of the Constitution periodically is worthwhile, although I’d recommend all House members read it in unison in its entirety. And they should carry a smart phone to access it on the Internet in all its glory instead of an abridged, printed copy, which in this age seems like a fossil.

Of course, our ancestors made mistakes, such as taking over 130 years to grant women’s suffrage, but progress was made. Our Constitution gives us power. Let’s believe we can unite for progress faster than they did, despite persistent differences.