By Fleming El-Amin
How well do we know the document that governs American life? Try this simple framework: P-7A-27C — the Preamble, 7 Articles, and 27 Changes (amendments) of the United States Constitution.
We the People
The Articles of Confederation that preceded our Constitution centered the rights of states. The Constitution's Preamble does something radical: it centers people.
"We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union..."
The Preamble names six purposes: 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.
Our Responsibility
If those are the Constitution's purposes, what are our responsibilities in achieving them? ACGG encourages every community to:
- Develop a local engagement plan tied to these constitutional purposes
- Host community forums with candidates and ask whether they are genuinely addressing local concerns
- Launch a local Take Five initiative to keep neighbors registered and informed
Informed, active citizenship is how "We the People" stays more than a phrase.
Adapted from the original article on the ACGG website. Edit this post in the admin to publish the full original text.