Isabella Carter
The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'. It is an introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles, and sets the stage for the highest law of the land. The Preamble communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document, which includes establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First words | We the People |
| Purpose | To introduce the Constitution and its fundamental purposes and guiding principles |
| Writer | Gouverneur Morris |
| Date written | 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'
- The Preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land
- The Preamble communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document
- The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention
- The Preamble is followed by seven articles, including the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch
The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'
The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The first draft of the Preamble did not refer to the people of the United States, but rather to the people of the various states, which was the norm at the time. The change was made out of necessity, as the Constitution provided that, whenever the popularly elected ratifying conventions of nine states gave their approval, it would go into effect for those nine, irrespective of whether any of the remaining states ratified.
The Preamble outlines five objectives: to 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. These aspirations were agreed upon by the Framers in six weeks during the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787.
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The Preamble is an introduction to the highest law of the land
The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'. It is an introduction to the highest law of the land, setting the stage for the Constitution and communicating the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
The Preamble sets out the aspirations that 'We the People' have for our government and for our way of life as a nation. It outlines the basic principles and fundamental purposes of the Constitution, including the establishment of justice, the insurance of domestic tranquility, the provision for the common defence, the promotion of the general welfare, and the securing of the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.
The Preamble is an important reminder of the Founding Fathers' intentions regarding the Constitution's meaning and what they hoped it would achieve. It serves as a guide for interpreting the Constitution and ensuring that the government acts in accordance with the principles and values set forth in the Preamble.
By beginning with the words 'We the People', the Preamble recognises the sovereignty of the people and affirms that the Constitution is established by and for the people of the United States. This change from earlier documents, which referred to the people of the various states, reflects the necessity of a unified nation and the importance of the popular will in ratifying the Constitution.
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The Preamble communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document
The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'. It is an introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. The Preamble communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. It was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution. It is an introduction to the highest law of the land, but it is not the law itself. The Preamble outlines the basic principles that the Framers agreed on during the hot Philadelphia summer of 1787. These principles include the establishment of justice, the insurance of domestic tranquility, the provision of common defence, the promotion of general welfare, and the securing of the blessings of liberty for the people and their posterity.
The use of the phrase 'We the People' in the Preamble is significant. In earlier documents, such as the 1778 Treaty of Alliance with France and the Articles of Confederation, the word 'people' was not used. Instead, the phrase 'the United States' was followed by a listing of the states. The change to 'We the People' in the Preamble reflects the necessity of representing the people of the various states as a united nation.
By referring to 'We the People', the Preamble sets the tone for a government that is intended to serve the people and protect their rights. It establishes the idea that the Constitution is a social contract between the government and the governed, with the ultimate goal of forming a more perfect union.
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The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention
The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'. It is an introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Framers drafted the 52-word paragraph in six weeks during a hot Philadelphia summer. The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution, communicating the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. It is not the law, but it is an important statement of the Founding Fathers' intentions regarding the Constitution's meaning and what they hoped it would achieve. The Preamble outlines the following basic principles:
> We the People of the United States, in Order to 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, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The change from referring to the people of the various states to the people of the United States was made out of necessity, as the Constitution provided that, whenever the popularly elected ratifying conventions of nine states gave their approval, it would go into effect for those nine, irrespective of whether any of the remaining states ratified.
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The Preamble is followed by seven articles, including the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch
The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words 'We the People'. It is an introductory statement of the Constitution's fundamental purposes and guiding principles. The Preamble was mainly written by Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document. It is followed by seven articles, which include the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch. These articles outline the specific powers and responsibilities of each branch of government.
Article I, the Legislative Branch, establishes the powers of Congress, including the House of Representatives and the Senate. It outlines the process for creating and passing laws, as well as the roles and responsibilities of legislators.
Article II, the Executive Branch, focuses on the powers and duties of the President of the United States. It includes the process for electing the President, the role of the Vice President, and the responsibilities of the executive branch in implementing and enforcing the laws created by Congress.
Article III, the Judicial Branch, establishes the powers and responsibilities of the federal court system. It outlines the structure and jurisdiction of the courts, as well as the process for appointing judges. This article ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice.
The remaining articles in the Constitution cover a range of topics, including the relationships between the states, the process for amending the Constitution, and the rights and freedoms of citizens, such as freedom of religion, speech, and the press. These articles provide a framework for governing the nation and protecting the rights of its people.
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Frequently asked questions
The first words of the Constitution Preamble are We the People.
The Preamble introduces everything that is to follow in the Constitution's seven articles and twenty-seven amendments. It also specifies that what is being enacted is 'this Constitution' – a term that refers to the written document itself.
The change was made out of necessity, as the Constitution provided that, whenever the popularly elected ratifying conventions of nine states gave their approval, it would go into effect for those nine, irrespective of whether any of the remaining states ratified.
