CHAPTER X

Objectives of Our National Government

"God grants [gives] liberty only to those who love it nd are always ready to guard and defend it.”

-Daniel Webster.

National Government holds the Union together. ten call it the "Federal Government." We should the National Government. The word "Federal" a system of government. It means that the authorgovern is divided by the Constitution between the nal and State governments.

Thirteen Colonies fought a war with England. had a purpose or objective. They wanted to win the to govern themselves.

have studied how the new States, under the Articles nfederation, failed to organize a good government. people sent delegates to a convention in Philadelphia. elegates had a purpose. They wanted to plan a strong a for the States.

ITUTION EXPLAINS PURPOSES OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

was only natural, in writing the Constitution, to list urposes or objectives that the Fathers had in mind. stated the objectives in the Preamble of the Constin. It contains only 52 words. But it sets out in and simple words the six purposes of the new✓ n. The passing of the years has brought new needs new laws. But the six purposes of our Constitution Government have not changed.

e Makers of the Constitution spoke for the whole rican people. The Preamble does not say: "We, the es." Nor does it read: "We, the people of the

PREAMBLE

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquil. ity, 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.

Figure 7

The Objectives of Our National Government:

Preamble of the Constitution

States." It says: "We, the People of the United States." The Constitution was written and accepted for "The People."

The Constitution lists six objectives which the whole people wanted in the new Constitution. The National Government was organized to serve those purposes. They are just as important today as they were in 1787.

"WE THE PEOPLE

TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION"

The first purpose, listed in the Preamble, is to "form a more perfect Union." How to set up a better Union was a hard question in 1787. Many people thought that in "a more perfect Union" the National Government should have more authority. Others thought that the States should keep more authority than was delegated to the National Government.

Experience has proved that the Fathers of the Constitution selected the right objectives. The Constitution was a better plan of government than the Articles of Confederation. The new Union has lasted for more than 165 years. It has grown to 48 States. It is indeed "a more perfect Union."

NATURE OF THE UNION

Our Union is a strange one in some ways. We have a Union of the whole people. But we also have a Union of 48 States. Each State has its own authority. It can act on many matters without asking the National Government. The States often have different laws on the same subject. For example, the tax laws of two States are never the same.

Many years ago the people quarreled about the nature of the Union. Some of the States wanted to leave the Union. The other States said that this was impossible. But some States attempted to leave the Union.

There was a long war between the States to keep the Union from being broken up. At the close of the war, all of the States were still in one Union. The war proved that

the States cannot destroy the Union. The Union cannot destroy the States.

Experience has proved that the Union is more perfect. Those who governed in the early years always asked whether a suggested change in the Constitution or Government would improve the Union. When we come to decide public questions today, we should do the same thing. The question of how to form "a more perfect Union" is always before the people.

"WE THE PEOPLE... TO ESTABLISH JUSTICE"

The second purpose of the Constitution is to "establish justice." This means to be fair in making and in carrying out the laws. This thought was taken from the Declaration of Independence. King George III had not been fair and just with the colonists. The Declaration of Independence told why the colonists wanted to organize their own government. They wanted fair laws. They wanted honest officers who would be fair in enforcing the laws.

Under the Constitution all persons must obey the law. One man may be rich and another poor, yet both are equal before the law. Both must obey the law. Both can demand that the law protect them in the use of all of their rights. The Government may punish one who does not obey the law, whether he be rich or poor.

In some countries there are different laws for different people. But in America that is not true. Any person who breaks our laws can be punished. Even judges can be se to prison if they do not obey the law.

"WE THE PEOPLE... TO INSURE DOMES

The third purpose is "to insure This means to make sure of peace of the Constitution wanted to put

ites. Thus one purpose of the National Government orrect the conditions that cause the quarrels. The al Government can help the States to keep peace their people.

National Government must protect the States t attacks by foreign nations. If a State asks for it, ational Government will protect the State against attack at home. Each State has generally been able down attacks within its limits. But the Nation al

tands ready "to insure domestic tranquillity."

fourth purpose is like the third in some ways. The ✓ tution took the authority to declare war away from Eates. This power was delegated to the National nment.

1789, foreign nations owned lands on three sides of nited States. The British were on the North in a. The French owned the Louisiana Territory on est. The Spanish were in Florida to the South. athers of the Constitution knew, that if these nations attack one of the States, the National Government have to help. "Common" means "all." The NaGovernment should have power to defend all of the

Constitution divides the duty of making a good debetween the Congress and the President. The Conis given authority to declare war. It has authority how large the armed forces of the Nation shall be, ow the members shall be selected. But the Constitulaces the President at the head of the Armed Forces.

V

THE PEOPLE

...

TO PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE"

fifth purpose of the Constitution is to "promote the l welfare." "Promote" means to "work for." ral" means "all or the whole." "Welfare" means