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"The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite."
-- James Madison, Federal No. 45, January 26, 1788
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The United States government was established after much discussion, debate and argument amongst the brilliant men who led our country to freedom. The founding fathers based the structure of the government on the principles of Federalism. Federalist principles permeate the Constitution, which was ratified in 1787. The Constitution is one of the most remarkable documents created in the history of the world. It ushered in an entirely new way of thinking about the relationship between the government and the people.
Sadly, many Americans have never read the Constitution. It is the lack of knowledge about the structure of our government that has led and continues to lead us down paths that violate the tenets of our Constitution. Every time our federal government encroaches, unchecked, on the rights of the people or the states, it belittles our Constitution and undermines the stability and future of our country.
The people of the United States have a duty to learn about the structure of our government and to hold all of our elected officials accountable for upholding the core principles of the Constitution. The judiciary is obligated to enforce the constraints of the Constitution. Legislators and executives also have a duty to interpret the Constitution and pass and sign legislation that respects and upholds the Constitution. All of these people have a duty to act at the behest of the citizenry in a manner true to the Constitutional framework that has been in place for over 200 years.
Over the past several decades, many of our political and judicial leaders have allowed themselves to drift from these core principles, often because their constituents have demanded they pursue policies that pushed the limits governmental authority. The further America strays from its founding philosophy, the harder it becomes to return to the very principles that made this country the greatest and most successful government in history.
As the founding fathers recognized, the citizens of the United States will most assuredly get the government they deserve.
The following links offer information about the documents that serve as the foundation of our country:
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