Before honor comes humility, Proverbs says, and last week seemed designed to bring everyone to their knees

But for all the threats and fears, the Constitution is not a delicate artifact. It sits in a helium-filled case over at the National Archives in one of those soundproof, heatproof and humidity-controlled reliquaries designed to protect its every word and wrinkle. Every once in a while, we get to take the Constitution out for a spin.

And when we do, we learn again that it wasn't built for speed--it was built to last, for the ages of ages. So in a time of severe impatience, it is teaching us, among other things, to be steadfast. The Founders, astride an age of enlightenment and revolution, did not want power transferred quickly or easily or often. They knew much more about taking power by force than we ever will--and the risks of anarchy that go with it. By comparison, what's going on here is almost an innocent minuet. It doesn't happen very often, and it isn't fun to watch, but we now have all three legs of our government out on the dance floor, all twirling around the same question: Who picks our Presidents, anyway? The Executive, the courts or the Legislative Branch? Or the people, however we count them?

We're about to find out, once and for all. It just requires more patience, and less pride, than our politics is accustomed to.