We the People

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 United States Constitution

This document doesn’t get near the amount of attention and recitation it should, and it is the very support beam of our nation’s freedom. When the majority of American’s don’t know what is written in the Constitution and what it means (or understand what will happen to our nation if it is destroyed), it is time for us to open up our history books, pull up this document and read it for ourselves. Stop relying on our nation’s leaders and teachers to tell us what it says, or worry about supporting it…it is our job as American citizens to know our laws and documents and hold our leaders, and those who are to uphold it, accountable.

So let’s take a look at what this stunning document says, and then look at what our job is. Even ordinary citizens have a part to play…no degree or experience necessary!

What it Says

Now, I know that sometimes these documents can be a little tricky to understand…but that doesn’t mean we should not try or that it is impossible. We should ALL know what this foundational document says and we need to stop making excuses for why we can’t. For the sake of this article, I am going to break it down a little bit and make it a little easier…but I strongly urge you to go and read it for yourself and be familiar with it enough to know when someone is trying to subvert it.

• Article I – The Legislative Branch. The main mission of the legislative body is to make laws. It is split into two different chambers – the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress is a legislative body that holds the power to draft and pass legislation, borrow money for the nation, declare war and raise a military. It also has the power to check and balance the other two federal branches.
• Article II – The Executive Branch. This branch of the government manages the day-to-day operations of government through various federal departments and agencies, such as the Department of Treasury. At the head of this branch is the elected President of the United States. Its powers include making treaties with other nations, appointing federal judges, department heads and Ambassadors, and determining how to best run the country and run military operations.
• Article III – The Judicial Branch. Article III outlines the powers of the federal court system. All judges shall hold office during good behavior. Those facing charges are to be tried and judged by a jury of their peers.
• Article IV – The States. This article defines the relationship between the states and the federal government. The federal government guarantees a republican form of government in each state, protects the nation and the people from foreign or domestic violence, and determines how new states can join the Union. All the states are equal to each other and should respect each other’s laws and the judicial decisions made by other states (ex. If someone is charged in any state with a crime and flee to another state, no state shall obstruct justice if they are found within their borders).
• Article V – Amendment. Future generations can amend the Constitution if the society so requires it. Both the states and Congress have the power to initiate the amendment process.
• Article VI – Debts, Supremacy, Oaths. Article VI determines that the US Constitution, and all laws made from it are the ‘supreme Law of the Land’, and all officials, whether members of the state legislatures, Congress, judiciary or the Executive have to swear an oath to the Constitution.
• Article VII – Ratification. This article details all those people who signed the Constitution, representing the original 13 states.

What to Do

Every member of the State ought diligently to read and to study the constitution of his country. . . . By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated and be the better prepared to defend and assert them.

John Jay, First Chief Justice

When everyone knows and understands their country’s constitution, they will be able to more quickly spot when laws are being broken (or even bended) and their rights and freedoms are being taken away. Then they will be better equipped to protect and fight for them.

Before he can take on the office, the President must take this oath:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Our other elected officials (senators, congress, judges, etc.) all must take similar oaths to protect and defend the Constitution. But here we run into a little problem:

Did you know that the majority of our nations leaders don’t even know what the United States Constitution and our other founding documents say and what it means? We should be holding our Congressmen, Senators and all our Representatives up to this standard, as well as ourselves. The officials are elected to represent the people and uphold and defend the Constitution. How can they do that if they do not even know what it says?

The only way that more Congressmen will begin to study the Constitution is if “We The People” study it first and use our voices (through calls, letters, and votes) to hold them accountable and insist that our elected officials also know and observe it.

So know your Constitution, contact your elected officials and hold them accountable to the job that they were elected and paid to do!

If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honour of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation.

Samuel Adams, Letter to Elbridge Gerry, November 27, 1780