the framers signed the constitution of the United States of America. After five months of delegates from 12 of the 13 original colonies (Rhode Island did not send a delegation) arguing, negotiating, cajoling, threatening, walking out, and ultimately, agreeing, this wonderful document was completed and signed by members of the delegation.
It took over 3 years for the approval by the 13 original states to happen, the last, you might have guessed it, Rhode Island.
The constitution establishes our form of government, a democratic republic. It was designed to allow the democratic process giving the vote to people from all walks of life, rich, poor, landed, laborer, shopkeeper, wanderer. Yet the drafters had the foresight to put in safeguards to prevent a tyranny of the majority, or a minority.
It begins with the preamble and ends with the list of amendments (including the Bill of Rights). In the middle is the roadmap, the guide, the meat and potatoes of how are government is to be formed and executed.
You can read the entire constitution here, it doesn't take long. We all should read it, on different occasions, to remind us of the powers and limitations of government, to remind us of our rights, and, the unwritten responsibilities that come with those rights.
But, I will end this with a copy of the preamble. It is almost universally accepted that the preamble is an introduction, that it established no laws, but that it clearly shows that the federal government has no authority outside of what follows the preamble, included the ammendments.
