Preamble to the United States Constitution:
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, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
Preamble to the Constitution of the State of Illinois:
We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful to Almighty God
for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted
us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors - in order to
provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a
representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality;
assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the
fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility;
provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom
and liberty to ourselves and our posterity - do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the State of Illinois.
Lecture
Prior to the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the American
colonies operated as independent states answering to the greater power
of Britain. However, in the Declaration of Independence, the colonies
referred to themselves as "one people," "united colonies," and "the
United States of America" for the first time. Because the colonies declared
themselves united, they needed to work quickly to form a united government
structure under which they could collectively operate. The resulting
governmental document was known as the Articles of Confederation. The
Articles gave most powers to the states, and gave limited authority
to a weak central Congress.
As a result of the colonies' original preference for states' individual
rights, the colonies did not establish as strong, central government
to bind them together. Soon, the states and their residents experienced
extreme economic and other difficulties. For example, a group of farmers
in western Massachusetts formed a rebellion called Shays' Rebellion
to attempt to gain some control over personal debt and economic crisis.
Also, the British disregarded their treaties with the states, the states
suffered increased attacks from Native Americans, and the Spanish started
making movements along the western and southern borders.
Recognizing the need for change, leaders of each state called for a
constitutional convention to balance state sovereignty and a strong
federal government. The result was the current US Constitution.
The US Constitution is clearly an act of the people of the United
States as opposed to an act of the states themselves in their political
capacities. This sentiment can be seen in the first line of the Preamble
to the US Constitution - "WE THE PEOPLE of the United States of America
. . ." Where previous actions between the states were considered as
treaties between independent states, the Constitution is a document
directing a confederation of states as a government for the people and
by the people. Each line of the Preamble directs the reader as to the
purpose of the Constitution, and reminds the reader that this Constitution
is not applicable to thirteen independent states, but is for the people
of the United States of America.
Q: What is the purpose of a preamble?
A: The purpose of a preamble is to establish the nature, extent and
application of powers conferred within a constitution. A preamble does
not create powers, and is not a source of any implied powers. It is
more similar to an introductory paragraph to an essay.
Activity
1. Divide the class into four to five groups. Discuss the difference
between the contents of a state constitution versus a federal constitution.
While a federal constitution would cover subjects including national
defense, due process, interstate commerce, and foreign relations, a
state constitution would cover subjects specific to the state such as
property rights, education, and intrastate commerce.
2. Every twenty years, the State of Illinois has the opportunity to
review and rewrite its constitution. Illinois is due for a constitutional
convention in 2010. Have students imagine that they are either a) at
a state constitutional convention to rewrite the state constitution;
or b) at a federal constitutional convention (subject to the teacher's
discretion). Each student group is charged with rewriting the relevant
Preamble. The students should not have the relevant preamble in front
of them for reference while they are writing. The students' preamble
must reflect the mood and intent of the country/state, and it must reflect
what will be contained in the new constitution.
3. Students should contemplate important symbols, issues, and events
of the country/state, and should include those issues in the preamble,
just as the original framers of the US Constitution had to include the
issues of unity and federalism in the US Constitution Preamble. The
structure of the Preamble to the US Constitution can be used as a template
for student preambles.
4. Compare and contrast the students' preambles. Work together as one
large group to mesh the small group preambles into one preamble that
is acceptable to all of the students.
5. Compare and contrast the final student preamble to the State and
Federal Preambles. How similar are they? Does the student preamble reflect
different concerns than the State and Federal Preambles? What changed?
Do the students see the State and Federal Preambles as still being relevant?
Why? Why not?
6. Have students sign a copy of their revised state preamble and send
it to their Illinois House and Senate representatives as a suggestion
for the next Illinois Constitutional Convention.
©Copyright 2003 Citizen Advocacy Center. All rights reserved. No part
of this lesson plan may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior, written permission of the Citizen Advocacy Center.
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