Jonah Patel
The US Constitution was established with six key goals in mind, as outlined in its preamble. These were: to form a more perfect union; to establish justice; to insure domestic tranquility; to provide for the common defense; to promote the general welfare; and to secure the blessings of liberty. The preamble, written in 1787, serves as an introduction to the US Constitution, communicating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Forming a more perfect union | Creating a stronger and more effective government than under the Articles of Confederation, allowing states to work together cohesively |
| Establishing justice | Creating laws that provide a fair procedure to solve conflicts and establishing federal courts for a uniform legal system across the country |
| Insuring domestic tranquility | Creating laws to give tranquility to citizens and mobilizing forces like the National Guard to address internal disturbances |
| Providing for the common defense | Protecting the nation from external threats by establishing a united military force for the security of all states |
| Promoting the general welfare | Ensuring the government helps to create conditions for a prosperous society |
| Securing the blessings of liberty | Protecting the freedoms and individual rights of current and future generations against government overreach |
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What You'll Learn
To form a more perfect union
The US Constitution was established to "form a more perfect union" between the states, creating a stronger and more effective government than what existed under the Articles of Confederation. This allowed the states to work together cohesively, addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had created a loose league of states represented in Congress. The Articles were considered too weak to make the states obey congressional mandates, and the Constitutional Convention of 1787 proposed a new constitution with a much stronger national government.
The phrase "more perfect union" implies that the progress of the American experience is never complete, and that there is always room for improvement in the state of the union. This idea of forming a more perfect union is also reflected in the Constitution's establishment of a federal system of government, which balances the powers of national and state governments.
The Continental Congress (1774-1789) was the first instance of the colonies coming together as a coordinated effort to resist the British. By the time the Continental Congress ended, the colonies had become independent states, and the Articles of Confederation were created to unite the states as a confederation. However, the Articles were ineffective, and there was a need for a more powerful central authority.
The establishment of a more perfect union is an ongoing process, as seen in the continuous efforts to improve social justice and promote the general welfare, such as in the passing of health reform bills to extend healthcare coverage to more Americans.
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Establish justice
The US Constitution was established with the goal of "establish[ing] justice". This means creating a uniform legal system across the country, with laws that provide a fair procedure to solve conflicts.
The Founding Fathers wanted to establish a fair and balanced government, with rules for each part of the government. To achieve this, the Constitution provides "checks and balances" among the three branches of government, so that no one branch dominates the others. The three branches are the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, has the power to create laws, declare war, raise money for the military, and more. The executive branch includes the President, who appoints Supreme Court justices with the approval of the Senate. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court, which decides whether laws are constitutional or unconstitutional.
The establishment of justice was also evident in the creation of federal courts. Federal courts provide a uniform legal system across the country, so that citizens have fair procedures to solve conflicts.
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Insure domestic tranquility
"Insure domestic tranquility" is one of the six foundational purposes outlined in the Preamble of the US Constitution. The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. While the Preamble does not carry legal weight, it outlines the importance of the Constitution, why it was written, and the goals it hopes to achieve.
"Insure domestic tranquility" refers to the goal of promoting peace within the newly established country. The Constitution establishes a framework for creating one federal government that unites the multiple colonies' separate governments. It gives the federal government the power to negotiate, enter into treaties, and declare war on foreign powers to protect the country from outside enemies. Additionally, it authorizes the federal government to arbitrate disputes and disagreements between states to ensure peace among them.
To achieve domestic tranquility, the Constitution contains measures to promote harmony and prevent disagreements between the states. For example, it prohibits states from discriminating against citizens of other states based on residency and enacting tariffs on goods traveling between states. The Constitution also establishes federal courts that provide a uniform legal system across the country, contributing to a more peaceful and just society.
The National Guard, as authorized by the Constitution, can be mobilized to address internal disturbances, such as riots or protests, to maintain peace and order within the country. The Constitution's allocation of limited powers to the federal government and reservation of most powers to the individual states also contribute to ensuring domestic tranquility.
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Provide for the common defence
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
The above excerpt from the Preamble of the United States Constitution outlines the six key purposes for its establishment. The fourth purpose, "provide for the common defense", is the focus of this response.
Providing for the common defence means protecting the nation from external threats and establishing a united military force for the security of all states. It involves establishing and maintaining a national fighting force, as outlined in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which instructs the Legislative Branch to "provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States." This responsibility includes ensuring that the military has the necessary resources and that the rights and sacrifices of service members are honoured.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an example of legislation that upholds the duty to provide for the common defence. It restores fiscal discipline to the defence budget, affirms the nation's commitment to military families, and prepares the armed forces for emerging threats. The act also includes provisions for modest pay increases and extended bonus pay for service members, recognising their invaluable contributions to national security.
In conclusion, "providing for the common defence" as a foundational principle of the US Constitution ensures that the nation maintains a strong and united military force capable of protecting against external threats. It empowers Congress to make decisions and allocate resources to safeguard the security and well-being of the United States.
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Promote the general welfare
The US Constitution's Preamble states that one of its overriding purposes is to "promote the general welfare". This clause indicates that the economic and social welfare of the citizens was a central concern for the framers of the Constitution.
The "general welfare" clause is also referred to as the "General Welfare Clause" or the "Spending Clause". It gives Congress the power to tax and spend for the general welfare of the United States. The text of the clause is as follows:
> "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States".
The exact meaning of "general welfare" is open to interpretation, and it has been argued that this clause could be linked to a more robust understanding of constitutional equality. The Supreme Court has ruled that there is no underlying constitutional right to a minimum standard of living, but that the due process clause of the 14th amendment ensures fair processes for welfare recipients.
Many state constitutions articulate positive rights to welfare, health, education, and the right to work. For example, the New York State Constitution states that "the aid, care and support of the needy are public concerns and shall be provided by the state…in such manner and by such means" as the legislature shall determine. The Constitution of North Dakota provides a specific right to education, and Alaska's constitution addresses the public health of state inhabitants.
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