Eleanor Finch
The Preamble to the Constitution is a 52-word paragraph that sets the stage for the US Constitution. It outlines the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. Diagramming the Preamble involves analysing its structure and meaning, often recommended as a way to better understand the source of authority in the US government. While some people find sentence diagramming irritating or challenging, others find it entertaining and a useful tool for understanding sentence structure. The Preamble to the Constitution has been diagrammed and visualised in various ways, including posters and videos, to facilitate understanding and stimulate discussion about the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Source of authority in the government | We, the People |
| Aspirations of the people | Form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding the source of authority
The Preamble to the United States Constitution, which begins with the words "We the People", is an introductory statement outlining the fundamental purposes and principles that guide the Constitution. It was primarily written by Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania, during the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. This preamble sets the tone for the Constitution by articulating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document, but it is important to note that it is not the law itself.
The phrase "We the People of the United States" is significant in understanding the source of authority. It indicates that the national government established by the Constitution derives its sovereignty from the people. This is in contrast to the "United Colonies", which recognised external monarchical sovereignty. The use of "We the People" suggests that the government under the Constitution was intended to govern and protect the people directly as a unified society, rather than governing only the states as separate political entities.
The Preamble's reference to the "United States of America" is also crucial in understanding the nature of the governmental entity created by the Constitution. In contemporary international law, a state is considered sovereign if its ruling inhabitants hold supreme authority over it, distinct from mere land ownership. While each state within the US was initially recognised as sovereign, the Supreme Court maintained that the "United States of America" constitutes a single sovereign nation regarding foreign affairs and international relations. This means that individual states do not have the authority to conduct foreign relations.
The Preamble also outlines specific objectives that further elucidate the source of authority. These include establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for both present and future generations. These objectives reflect the aspirations of "We the People" for their government and their desired way of life as a nation.
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Diagramming as a teaching tool
The Preamble to the Constitution is a complex sentence with many clauses and phrases. Diagramming can help students identify the main clauses and subordinate clauses, as well as the subjects and verbs of each clause. This can help students understand the hierarchy of ideas and the logical flow of the sentence.
For example, the Preamble begins with the phrase "We the People of the United States". Diagramming this phrase would involve identifying "We" as the subject and "People" as the object of the prepositional phrase "of the United States". This helps students recognize that the Preamble is written from the perspective of the people, establishing their sovereignty and authority.
Diagramming can also help students identify the different purposes and objectives outlined in the Preamble. There are six purposes outlined in the Preamble, each introduced by a verb: "establish Justice", "insure domestic Tranquility", "provide for the common defence", "promote the general Welfare", "secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity", and "ordain and establish this Constitution". By diagramming these verbs and their corresponding objects, students can more easily identify the specific goals and intentions of the framers.
Additionally, diagramming can help students understand the grammatical relationships between the different parts of the sentence. For instance, the phrase "in Order to form a more perfect Union" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb "ordain". Identifying these grammatical relationships can improve students' understanding of the sentence structure and enhance their own writing skills.
In conclusion, diagramming the Preamble to the Constitution is a valuable teaching tool that can enhance students' comprehension of the text's structure, grammar, and overall meaning. By visualizing the relationships between the different parts of the sentence, students can more easily grasp the complexities of the Preamble and appreciate its significance as the foundation of the United States government.
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The intentions of the framers
One of the key intentions of the framers was to create a system of checks and balances that would protect individual rights and prevent the abuse of power. They understood that the Constitution would need to be interpreted and applied by future generations, who would have the responsibility to give concrete meaning to its broad principles. The framers intended for the courts to play a central role in this process, acting as a "legal check" on political majorities and guarding against arbitrary or unreasonable governmental actions.
Another important intention of the framers was to establish certain fundamental freedoms and governmental powers. The Constitution outlines these freedoms in general terms, including freedom of speech, due process of law, the free exercise of religion, equal protection under the law, and protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Similarly, it sets forth governmental powers in broad terms, such as Congress's power to regulate commerce among the states and the president's duty to ensure the faithful execution of laws.
The preamble to the Constitution, drafted by the framers in six weeks during the summer of 1787, clearly communicates their intentions and the purpose of the document. It sets out the aspirations of "We the People" for our government and our way of life as a nation. The preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land and outlines five key objectives: establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
While the framers intended for majority rule to be the system of government, they recognised its imperfections. They understood that the courts must generally defer to the preferences of the majority while also having the power to review governmental actions and protect the rights guaranteed in the Constitution. This balance between majority rule and judicial review is an essential tenet of the framers' vision for a self-governing society.
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The role of conjunctions
Diagramming the Preamble to the Constitution is a recommended exercise for students to better understand the source of authority in the US government. The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. It is not a law itself, but an introduction to the highest law of the land.
For example, the phrase "in Order to" is a conjunction that introduces the following objectives: "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity". Here, the conjunction "and" is used to list multiple objectives that are equally important.
Another example is the phrase "We the People of the United States", where the conjunction "of" is used to show the relationship between "We the People" and "the United States". This conjunction clarifies who is being referred to in the Preamble and sets the scope and context for the rest of the document.
The conjunctions in the Preamble help to create a logical flow and emphasize the connections between the ideas presented. By using conjunctions, the framers of the Constitution were able to present a unified set of intentions and purposes, highlighting the importance of each element in relation to the others.
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The challenges of diagramming
Diagramming the Preamble to the US Constitution is challenging, given the complex structure of the text. The Preamble is a single, lengthy sentence that conveys a significant amount of information in a concise manner. It introduces the Constitution, outlines its purpose, and sets out the aspirations and intentions of its framers.
One of the primary challenges in diagramming the Preamble is dealing with the phrase "in order to." Interpretations vary, with some considering it a subordinating conjunction that introduces a series of infinitival clauses that modify the compound verbs "do ordain" and "establish." Others view it as a particle that creates an infinitive verb construction. This phrase can be tricky to diagram accurately, as it is not immediately clear how it relates to the rest of the sentence.
The Preamble also contains a series of verb phrases that need to be analysed and diagrammed correctly. Each verb phrase has a direct object, except for the fourth phrase, "establish justice," which has a subject/verb construction with a prepositional phrase tacked on. Understanding and visually representing these grammatical relationships accurately can be challenging.
Additionally, the Preamble's historical context and the evolution of the English language at the time add further complexity to the diagramming process. The Preamble was written in the late 1700s, when America was developing its own linguistic style, independent of British influences. This means that the language used in the Preamble may not conform to modern grammatical expectations or structures, making it more challenging to analyse and diagram using traditional methods.
Lastly, the Preamble's content and purpose as a mission statement for the nation pose challenges in diagramming. The text is not just a collection of words but a powerful statement of ideals and objectives. Ensuring that the diagram accurately captures the meaning, intentions, and nuances of the Preamble's framers requires a deep understanding of the historical context and the framers' motivations.
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Frequently asked questions
The preamble to the Constitution is an introductory statement that outlines the intentions and purpose of the document. It is not a law itself but sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the aspirations of "We the People" for the government and the nation.
Diagramming the preamble helps to better understand the source of authority in the government ("We, the People"). It provides a visual representation of the structure and relationships between the different parts of the preamble, making it easier to comprehend and analyse the text.
When diagramming the preamble, pay attention to the grammatical structure, including the subjects, verbs, and objects. Decide on a consistent format for representing different parts of speech and punctuation. Consider the relationships between clauses and how they connect to each other. You can also refer to resources like the "Guide to Grammar and Writing" from Capital Community College for guidance on sentence diagramming.
