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The Great Essentials
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
-- James Madison, 1788
In a perfect world, government had no role. In the real world, however, the Founders felt that well-crafted government played a crucial role in human happiness. They felt compelled, even driven, to identify the great essentials of government. Their search of history, coupled with their own personal experiences, led them to conclude that:
* Whatever power government possessed came from, and could be reclaimed by, those who are governed.
* Free and independent nations existed to secure the welfare of the people.
* Just government depended upon a written constitution, not the personal whims of human leaders.
* Power must be carefully separated, balanced, and shared by national, state, and local governments.
The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution of the United States reveal just how the Founders applied these "essentials." |