Omar Bennett
The six goals of the US Constitution, also known as the Six Big Ideas, are established in the 52-word preamble, which was drafted in six weeks during the summer of 1787. The preamble sets the tone for the rest of the Constitution, communicating the intentions of its framers and the purpose of the document. The six goals are: 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Six Big Ideas | Limited government, Republicanism, Checks and balances, Federalism, Separation of powers, Popular sovereignty |
| Six Goals of the Preamble | To form a more perfect Union, Establish Justice, Insure domestic Tranquility, Provide for the common defense, Promote the general Welfare, Secure the Blessings of Liberty |
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What You'll Learn
The Preamble
- "To form a more perfect Union": This refers to the creation of a better and more unified government than British colonial rule. It aims for a federal government that works in harmony with its people and state governments.
- "Establish Justice": This goal focuses on creating a fair and equal judicial system for all citizens of the United States.
- "Insure domestic Tranquility": The aim here is to maintain peace and order within the country, avoiding the turmoil and chaos that led to the writing of the Constitution.
- "Provide for the common defence": This objective goes beyond simply maintaining peace and involves actively defending the nation against any external threats.
- "Promote the general Welfare": This goal is about ensuring the overall well-being of the citizens, which can include regulations on food and medication, social welfare programs, and more.
- "Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity": This final goal is about protecting the freedoms and rights of current and future generations, ensuring that the liberties established by the Constitution are preserved.
These six goals, outlined in a 52-word paragraph, provide a clear direction for the Constitution and serve as a foundation for the laws and principles that follow. They represent the core values and aspirations of the Founding Fathers and continue to guide and inspire Americans today.
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Forming a more perfect union
The Six Big Ideas of the US Constitution are found in the preamble, which sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions of its framers. One of these ideas is "to form a more perfect union".
The phrase "to form a more perfect union" refers to the need for a stronger central authority to unite the thirteen American colonies, which had become independent states after gaining independence from Great Britain. The Continental Congress, which began as a coordinated effort to resist the British, was too weak to make the states obey congressional mandates. This prompted leading statesmen to call for a special convention to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The new Constitution proposed a much stronger national government, which was eventually ratified by the necessary number of states.
The phrase "to form a more perfect union" recognises that the Articles of Confederation, which united the states as a loose league of states represented in Congress, did not adequately describe the powers of a federal chief executive or a judicial system. The creation of the US Constitution and the present form of government was informed by these considerations.
The idea of forming a more perfect union is also related to the concept of federalism, which is one of the underlying principles of the Constitution. Federalism involves a division of powers between the national government and state governments, allowing for a balance between unity and diversity. This balance helps to protect individual liberties and ensure that the needs of different communities are met.
By forming a more perfect union, the framers of the Constitution aimed to create a stronger and more unified nation while still preserving the independence of member states. This goal was achieved through the establishment of a federal system of government, with a clear division of powers and a strong central authority capable of addressing the challenges facing the newly independent nation.
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Establishing justice
The "Six Big Ideas" of the US Constitution are often taught in schools to help students understand the foundational principles of the nation. The Constitution itself is a 52-word paragraph drafted in six weeks during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia.
The first of these six goals is "Establishing Justice". This is a broad statement that ensures the people are not wronged by common daily activities and that there is a method to handle disputes. Justice is a vital quality in any functioning republic, without which disputes would be settled outside of the legal system. The US Constitution recognises that rights are inherent and are decided at birth, given by God and are inalienable natural rights. These rights include the right to life, liberty, and property.
The US Supreme Court is the final authority in the justice system, supported by smaller state and local courts. The government's function is to enforce contracts and provide a means of disputing irregularities or violations of agreements.
Law enforcement is the "missing link" between anarchy and stability. The preamble and the Constitution aim to balance the strength of police forces, making them strong enough to deter crime but not so strong that they become a police state.
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Insuring domestic tranquility
The six goals of the US Constitution are found in the preamble, which serves as an introduction to the highest law of the land. One of these goals is to "insure domestic tranquility".
The Framers of the Constitution were greatly concerned with domestic tranquility due to the social disorder that had become a common occurrence in the new states. This social unrest threatened the political stability of the country, which was governed by a weak central government incapable of controlling the conflicts within the states. Economic turmoil and violence in post-Revolutionary America (1783-87) also contributed to social disorder. The primary cause of this unrest was the economic conflict between farmers and merchants. During the Revolution, farmers borrowed money to meet the high demand for food from both domestic and foreign armed forces, as well as civilians. However, at the end of the war, farmers could no longer sell as much of their produce, yet they still had to repay their loans.
The Framers intended "domestic tranquility" to mean peace and quiet within America, in contrast to other nations. For them, tranquility signified the absence of riots, rebellions, and other forms of social disorder.
Today, laws enacted by Congress that promote domestic tranquility include those related to terrorism, law enforcement, national security, peaceful assemblies and demonstrations, and the provision of peaceful means for citizens to monitor the government's actions and express their grievances.
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Providing for the common defence
The six goals of the US Constitution, also known as the "Six Big Ideas", are outlined in the preamble, which serves as an introduction to the document. The preamble was drafted in six weeks during the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia. The six goals are: "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".
The "provide for the common defence" goal refers to the responsibility given to Congress by the Framers in the Constitution to establish and maintain a national fighting force. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, also known as the Spending Clause, instructs the Legislative Branch to "provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States". This clause grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to fund the country's defence.
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an example of legislation that upholds this duty. The NDAA restores fiscal discipline to the Defence Department while ensuring that the fighting forces have the necessary resources. It also includes provisions for modest pay increases and extended bonus pay for service members, reflecting the nation's commitment to honouring their sacrifice and service.
The "provide for the common defence" goal of the Constitution is not just about establishing a military force but also about ensuring the country's ability to defend itself against various threats. This includes the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states, as well as the power to establish uniform rules of naturalization and uniform laws on bankruptcy.
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