What's the point of Government?

Watch the video from The West Wing - http://youtu.be/XyygC0VN9vU. The key dialogue is -

BARTLET: [sits] What's on your mind?

TOBY: [reading from the draft 'State of the Union Speeech'] "The era of big government is over".

BARTLET: You want to cut the line?

TOBY: I want to change the sentiment. We're running away from ourselves, and I know we can score
points that way. I was the principle architect in that campaign strategy, right along with you, Josh. But we're here now. Tomorrow night, we do an immense thing. We have to say what we feel. That government, no matter what its failures are in the past, and in times to come, for that matter, the government can be a place where people come together and where no one gets left behind. No one... gets left behind, an instrument of... good. [pause] I have no trouble understanding why the line tested well, Josh, but I don't think that means we should say it. I think that means we should... change it.

As the preamble to the US Constitution says -

"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." - some compelling reasons for establishing a Government.

US Constitution - The Preamble

A number of my students are this week studying thr principles behind Constitutional law. I'd like to welcome them to this short series on the US Constitution. But this blog is open to all - so even if you aren't a law student - I hope you find these brief pieces useful.

The US Constitution is an ideal document for studying the principles of constitutions. It is succinct - and logically deals with the key matters that a constitution should address - namely: who is to hold power - how are they chosen? who qualifies to be chosen? how long is their term of office? how can they be removed? what powers do they have? - and for what purposes? what limitations exist on the exercise of those powers? What are the 'checks and balances'? How can the rules be amended?

While this series concentrates on the US Constitution - I would encourage you to look at other constitutions - as a comparison - of structure, and of content? What do you think is essential? A database of constitutions can be accessed here. (Note - most have translations available - but you may need to look around the page of the national constitution to find the translated version link)

This first piece outlines the preamble.

Can You Do Better?

This classic comedy piece deals with reciting the Preamble of the US Constitution. Don Knotts plays the character Barney Fife who asserts that he can recite, from memory, the Preamble - which sets out the purposes of the Constitution.