All it took to form a new nation was a preamble and seven Articles. Well, there was a little more to it than that, but our founding document boils down to those sections before forming the Bill of Rights. Remember that the Constitution itself does not give the People their rights, but it protects their rights. God gives them their rights.
Preamble
The Preamble introduces the Constitution and sets forth its goals and purposes, including the establishment of justice, the promotion of the general welfare, and the securing of liberty for all. It serves as an introduction to the Constitution and sets forth the goals and objectives of the document. The Preamble is not considered to be a source of substantive powers, but an explanation of the reasons for the Constitution’s existence and underlying values.
The Preamble begins with the famous phrase, “We the People of the United States,” emphasizing the role of the people in creating and ratifying the Constitution. It goes on to state the purposes of the Constitution, which include the establishment of justice, the promotion of the general welfare, the defense of the country, and the securing of liberty for all. These goals reflect the values and principles of the American political system and the vision of the Founding Fathers for the nation.
The Preamble is a powerful statement of American ideals and serves as a reminder of the fundamental principles that underlie the Constitution. It has been cited in numerous court cases and other legal documents as evidence of the intentions and objectives of the framers of the Constitution.
Articles
Article I
Establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, which is responsible for making laws, regulating commerce, and collecting taxes.
Article II
Establishes the executive branch of the federal government, which is responsible for enforcing the laws and serving as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Article III
Establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, which is responsible for interpreting the law and resolving disputes between parties.
Article IV
Outlines the relationship between the states and the federal government, including the requirement that states give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
Article V
Outlines the process for amending the Constitution.
Article VI
Establishes the supremacy of the federal government over state governments and requires all government officials to swear an oath to support the Constitution.
Article VII
Outlines the process for ratifying the Constitution.
Overall, the Constitution outlines the basic structure of the federal government and the rights and responsibilities of its various branches, as well as the relationship between the federal government and the states. Accordingly, it has served as the foundation for American democracy for over two centuries and remains one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It outlines restrictions to government and not restriction to the people.
Next, I’ll break down each article and their impact on governing.