---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Americans took 13 years to draft their…"
description: "\"Americans took 13 years to draft their constitution and here, we're asking the Iraqis to do it in a short period of time.\" — Saxby Chambliss"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg"
---

#  Americans took 13 years to draft their constitution and…

![“Americans took 13 years to draft their constitution and here, we're asking the Iraqis to do it in a short period of time.” quote by Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg)

> “Americans took 13 years to draft their constitution and here, we're asking the Iraqis to do it in a short period of time.”

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker critiques the rushed drafting of Iraq’s constitution compared to the lengthy U.S. process, highlighting inconsistency.

**In simple terms:** Iraq’s constitution drafted too quickly.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for thorough constitutional work.

Themes

politics process justice

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political reflective

When to use this quote

- legislative drafting
- international aid
- nation‑building

Key Concepts

comparative law policy analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- What factors justify accelerated constitution making?
- How can quality be ensured under pressure?

A Different Perspective

Time constraints may be unavoidable in conflict zones.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Americans Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans-took-1833513/) [Constitution Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-asking-5147595/) [Draft Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draft-constitution-980316/) [Iraqis Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraqis-short-5147597/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Years Draft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-draft-5147596/)

## Related quotes

> [“In Göttingen, after the Americans took the town but before they established full control, mobs composed of women, the elderly and teenagers too young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-taylor/in-g-ttingen-after-the-americans-took-the-town-but-before-they/)

[Frederick Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-taylor/)

> [Americans took a great deal too much credit for creating wealth, when most of the time they had really just been living off natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/americans-took-a-great-deal-too-much-credit-for-creating-wealth-when/)

[Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/)

> [“One of the substantive policy issues raised in the Constitution discussion (primarily in letters rather than public meetings, it seems) was the abolition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-fitzpatrick/one-of-the-substantive-policy-issues-raised-in-the-constitution/)

[Sheila Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-fitzpatrick/)

> [The Iraqis have once again failed to meet a deadline for a final draft of the constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lauer/the-iraqis-have-once-again-failed-to-meet-a-deadline-for-a-final/)

[Matt Lauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lauer/)

> [“By the time the draft constitution for the expanded European Union was finished and ready to be submitted for ratification by the member states,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-weigel/by-the-time-the-draft-constitution-for-the-expanded-european-union/)

[George Weigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-weigel/)

> [The Founders who crafted our Constitution and Bill of Rights were careful to draft a Constitution of limited powers - one that would protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/the-founders-who-crafted-our-constitution-and-bill-of-rights-were/)

[Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/)

> [I have always been thankful that so many of our countrys greatest leaders and statesmen were able to be on this earth at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-latta/i-have-always-been-thankful-that-so-many-of-our-countrys-greatest/)

[Bob Latta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-latta/)

> [The EU Constitution is something new in human history. Though it is not as eloquent as the French and U.S. constitutions, it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/the-eu-constitution-is-something-new-in-human-history-though-it-is/)

[Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/)

[Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/)

> [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/)

[Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/)

> [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

## More by Saxby Chambliss

> [But the thing we do know is whatever it costs to save and protect American lives in this conflict, we're going to spend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/but-the-thing-we-do-know-is-whatever-it-costs-to-save-and-protect/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [The backbone of our nation's domestic defense against terrorist attacks will continue to be the men and women in local law enforcement and emergency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/the-backbone-of-our-nation-s-domestic-defense-against-terrorist/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [Intelligence is our first line of defense against terrorism, and we must improve the collection capabilities and analysis of intelligence to protect the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/intelligence-is-our-first-line-of-defense-against-terrorism-and-we/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [I do think that people ought to have some control over their money, rather than the government, just mandating to them how they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/i-do-think-that-people-ought-to-have-some-control-over-their-money/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [The military code of justice sets out exactly what type of charges are available for specific acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/the-military-code-of-justice-sets-out-exactly-what-type-of-charges/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [If we don't change the mindset within each of our intelligence agencies, it does not make any difference how much in resources we commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/if-we-don-t-change-the-mindset-within-each-of-our-intelligence/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [America is providing the kind of leadership that the world respects and the world has come to understand; that is what America stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/america-is-providing-the-kind-of-leadership-that-the-world-respects/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [It's very difficult to tell someone how to protect themselves from a terrorist attack, whether it occurs in the U.S. or on foreign soil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/it-s-very-difficult-to-tell-someone-how-to-protect-themselves-from-a/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [I'm concerned about the cost, just like everybody else. There's no question that we have an obligation to help the people of Louisiana and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/i-m-concerned-about-the-cost-just-like-everybody-else-there-s-no/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [When his nomination comes before the United States Senate, Timothy Batten can count on my strong support... He is the right person for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/when-his-nomination-comes-before-the-united-states-senate-timothy/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [Timothy Batten is an individual of high integrity and has given many years of service to Georgia and to the United States, .. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/timothy-batten-is-an-individual-of-high-integrity-and-has-given-many/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [The Guard is different in the respect that these folks are seen around town every day, driving a deputy sheriff's patrol car or working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/the-guard-is-different-in-the-respect-that-these-folks-are-seen/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [ He \[Rubio\] is so knowledgeable about this issue ... I'm glad to see somebody with his background step forward and say it's important and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/he-rubio-is-so-knowledgeable-about-this-issue-i-m-glad-to-see/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [Let me be clear: There is no stronger advocate for civil liberties in the Senate than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/let-me-be-clear-there-is-no-stronger-advocate-for-civil-liberties-in/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [First of all, war is a very, very difficult thing to deal with, even on the good days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/first-of-all-war-is-a-very-very-difficult-thing-to-deal-with-even-on/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

[Explore all 36 Saxby Chambliss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

## More Time quotes

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [“William didn't look like he'd be difficult about anything - he was thin and sandy-haired and already wore eyeglasses like his father. Most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/william-didn-t-look-like-he-d-be-difficult-about-anything-he-was-thin/)

[Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/)

> [Intel has a very complete process that I go through any time I want to sell that ensures I have no insider information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-krzanich/intel-has-a-very-complete-process-that-i-go-through-any-time-i-want/)

[Brian Krzanich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-krzanich/)

> [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

> [I feel like the future is unwritten. So many of the things that we write now haven't been about educating people on the environment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flansburgh/i-feel-like-the-future-is-unwritten-so-many-of-the-things-that-we/)

[John Flansburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flansburgh/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/)

[Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/)

> [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/)

[Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/)

> [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/)

[Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/)

> [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/)

[Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/)

[Browse all 215,255 Time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Americans took 13 years to draft their constitution and here, we're asking the Iraqis to do it in a short period of time.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Saxby Chambliss"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-constitution-and-here-we-re/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-constitution-and-here-we-re/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfa/saxby-chambliss-17978_time_americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-c_3063198.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Americans took 13 years to draft their constitution and here, we're asking the Iraqis to do it in a short…” — Saxby Chambliss",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Saxby Chambliss",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Americans took 13 years to draft...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-constitution-and-here-we-re/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/americans-took-13-years-to-draft-their-constitution-and-here-we-re/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
