Eleanor Finch
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. They express the ideals that define 'We the People of the United States' and inspire free people around the world. The Declaration's ideas of liberty, equality, limited government, and self-government later served as important features of the Constitution. The Constitution creates practical structures and rules for the federal and state governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Self-government | Liberty, equality, limited government |
| Consent of the governed | All men are created equal |
| Individual rights | Fundamental rights of all people |
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What You'll Learn
Liberty
The US Constitution was created to ensure that the government remained bound to its principles and promises. It was also designed to protect the fundamental rights of all people. The Constitution was built on the ideas of self-government and "the consent of the governed" in the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence lays out the core ideals behind the political philosophy of the United States. The Constitution creates practical structures and rules for the federal and state governments.
The Declaration's ideas of liberty, equality, limited government, and self-government later served as important features of the Constitution. The ideal that "all men are created equal" is considered the most perfect embodiment of the American creed.
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Equality
The Constitution begins with the words 'We the People', announcing the purposes and goals of the document, before listing the structures and protections of individual rights. The inclusion of Article V, which describes the process of making an amendment, ensures that the document can be changed or added to.
The ideal of equality in the Constitution was famously expressed by Thomas Jefferson, who wrote that 'all men are created equal'. This idea was later invoked by Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg Address during the Civil War. Lincoln declared that the nation was 'conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal'.
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Limited government
The US Constitution was created to protect the ideals of liberty, equality, limited government, self-government, and the consent of the governed. The principle of limited government is a key feature of the Constitution, and it is closely linked to the rule of law. Limited government means that government officials cannot act arbitrarily or do as they please when making and enforcing laws and other public decisions. Instead, they are guided and limited by the Constitution and the laws made under it. This principle is designed to protect the rights of individuals and prevent tyranny or unjust encroachments on liberty.
The Founding Fathers recognised the dangers of unrestrained power, whether in the hands of a king, military dictator, or an insufficiently limited majority of the people. They believed that a strong and limited government was necessary to secure the blessings of liberty for the people. The Constitution grants powers to the government while also controlling and limiting those powers to protect the rights of the people.
Article VI of the Constitution states the principle of constitutional supremacy, which guarantees limited government and the rule of law: "The Constitution and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof... shall be the supreme Law of the Land." This means that government officials are bound by the Constitution and the laws made under it when carrying out their duties.
The idea of limited government is also reflected in the process of making amendments to the Constitution. Article V describes how Congress proposes an amendment, and the states ratify it, ensuring that any changes to the Constitution are made through a deliberate and controlled process. This helps to maintain the balance of power between the government and the people and protects the core ideals of the Constitution.
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Self-government
The Constitution of the United States was created to protect the ideals of self-government, liberty, equality, and limited government. The document begins with the words "We the People", announcing the purposes and goals of the Constitution, and listing the structures and protections of individual rights that its authors designed to implement those objectives. The Constitution was written to ensure that the government remained bound to its principles and promises, and it included Article V, which describes the process of making an amendment to the Constitution.
The idea of self-government is central to the Constitution. The Founders recognised that for the document to be lasting, it would need to change, and so they included a process for making amendments. This process involves Congress proposing an amendment, which is then ratified by the states. The Constitution also creates practical structures and rules for both the federal government and state governments.
The Constitution is based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect. This includes the right to liberty and equality, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, which states that "all men are created equal". The Constitution is an expression of these ideals and serves as a lasting document to protect the rights of the people.
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Fundamental rights
The US Constitution was created to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens. Building on the ideas of self-government and 'the consent of the governed' in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution begins with 'We the People', announcing the purposes and goals of the document.
The Constitution was written to ensure that the government remained bound to its principles and promises. The Founders recognised that for the document to be lasting, it would need to change, so they included Article V, which describes the process of making an amendment.
The Declaration of Independence lays out the core ideals behind the political philosophy of the United States. The Constitution creates practical structures and rules for the federal government and state governments. Both documents are based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect.
The most famous expression of these ideals is perhaps the Gettysburg Address, delivered by Lincoln during the Civil War in 1863: 'Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal'.
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Frequently asked questions
The core ideals of the Constitution are liberty, equality, limited government, and self-government.
The Constitution was written to ensure the government remained bound to its principles and promises.
The Declaration of Independence lays out the core ideals and political philosophy of the United States, while the Constitution creates practical structures and rules for the federal and state governments.
The Constitution protects fundamental rights, including common law rights and natural rights.
The Constitution can be changed through the amendment process described in Article V, which involves Congress proposing an amendment and the states ratifying it.
