The Preamble is the opening statement of the United States Constitution. It explains the purposes of the Constitution and the goals the framers intended the new government to serve.
Text of the Preamble
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.
What the Preamble Says
The Preamble introduces the Constitution by stating that the authority for the government comes from the people. It then lists the broad purposes of the Constitution:
- to form a more perfect Union
- to establish Justice
- to insure domestic Tranquility
- to provide for the common defence
- to promote the general Welfare
- to secure the Blessings of Liberty
Historical Importance
The Preamble does not assign powers in the same way the Articles and Sections of the Constitution do, but it serves as an introduction to the entire document. It states the general aims of the Constitution and sets the tone for the framework of government that follows.
Source Note
The wording above is the historic text of the Preamble to the United States Constitution.
