BuckinghamCharterMagnetHighSchool

ThePurposeofAmericanGovernment
FoundationofAmericanGovernment

ArianaLester
Mr.Buescher
U.S.Government,Period1
27January2016

Lester1

AmericanhasbeenanationofchangesincetheestablishmentoftheU.S.Constitution.
FromtheProhibitiontoallowingblackstovote,theUnitedStateshasmadechangesthathave
enabledpeopletoexercisetheirrighttolifelibertyandthepursuitofhappiness.Butonething
thathasntchangedisthepreambleitisthebasisforallgovernment.NomatterwhattheU.S.
goesthroughthepreamblewillbetheretogiveanoutlineofwhatthegovernmentshoulddofor
itspeople.ThreepurposesofthegovernmentthathavebeentranscribedintothePreambleare
theestablishmentofjustice,insuranceofdomestictranquility,andprovidingforthecommon
defence.
Alllawsthatarepassedthroughgovernmentmustcomplywiththepreambleandits
predeterminedguidelinesonebeingtheestablishmentofjustice.Thepurposeofestablishing
justicewassotheU.S.coulddistancethemselvesfromthepreviousgovernmentduringcolonial
days.Inthosedaysthatgovernmentwasamonarchywithakingthatcouldpunishthosewhen
andhoweverhefeltwasjust.Thuscausingunfairprosecution,andnotbeingallowedtodefend
themselvesproperly,thoseunderquestionweremostlyfoundguilty.Americawantedamore
efficientandfairwayoftrialandinvestigation.
AnexampleoftheestablishjusticeclausebeingappliedwaswhentheUnitedStates
createdaworkingcourtsystemthatwouldholdupallthelawspassedbyCongress.Theend
resultofthiswasthecreationoftheJudiciaryBranchconsistingofasupremecourtwithnine
justicesandonechiefjustice.ThisreformationwasallthankstothecreationoftheJudiciaryAct
of1789informallycalled"AnActtoEstablishtheJudicialCourtsoftheUnitedStates,"which
wassignedintolawbyPresidentGeorgeWashingtononSeptember24,1789.Thisdirectly

Lester2

connectstothepreamblepromisetoestablishjusticewithintheAmericansocietyand
government.
AwaythatestablishingjusticehasbeenappliedtoAmericaisthecreationofthe
EighthAmendmentfromthebillofrights.Thispropositionwaspassedtolimitthepowerthat
thejudgehasoverthesentencingoftheconvicted.Theamendmentstates
Excessivebailshall
notberequired,norexcessivefinesimposed,norcruelandunusualpunishmentsinflicted(Bill
ofRights).ThisishowtheU.S.insuredthatpeoplethatwerechargedforminorcrimeswouldnt
havemajorpunishment.Thisamendmentallowsforjusticetoworkforthepeoplenotagainst
them.
DuringtheyearspriortotheFifteenthAmendment,blackmenweredeniedtherightto
voteinallelections.Theywerebarredfromhavingavoiceandsayinhowthecountry,thatthey
callhome,wouldberanandhowtheirliveswouldberestricted.Whenthefifteenthamendment
waspassed,onMarch30,1870,blackmencouldfinallyhaveasayingovernmentandproperly
representthemselves.ThiswasoneofthewaysthatAmericaestablishedjustice.Butitevolved
overtheyearswhileblackmenhadtherighttovotetherewereotherdevelopmentsthatmadeit
nearlyimpossibleforthemtoactontheirrights.
Blacksweregivenunfairtaxesoflubriciousamountforonevote,butthentherewasthe
additionoftheTwentyfourthAmendmenttotheConstitution.Theamendmentmadeitillegalto
havepolltaxes,thusmakingiteasierforblackmentovotesincetheywerenownotrequiredto
payforasay.ThiswasasteptowardestablishingjusticeinAmericathatwouldgiveeveryonea
sayandawaytovoicetheiropiniononwhoshouldberunningtheirgovernment.

Lester3

DuringtheCivilWar,PresidentAbrahamLincolnissuedtheEmancipationProclamation
on
January1,1863
.ThisisanultimateexampleofestablishingjusticeforallAmericans.The
proclamationdeclaredallslaveswerefreeandthatitwasnowillegaltoownorbuypeopleno
matterwhatcolor,race,orcreedforwhichtheidentify.Thiswasasteptowardfairnessthatthe
preambleclearlyexhibitsinthewordsestablishjustice.Butthepreamblehasmoretoofferthe
Americanpeople.
Sofar,intermsofestablishingjusticealltheexamplespresentedexemplifythe
successfulworkingsofthispreambleclause.Peoplemustnotbegivenunfairpunishments,all
peoplethatareAmericancitizenscanvotewithoutlivinginfearforexercisingthatright,and
nowthereisnoformofslaverythatisregulatedbytheU.S.governmentoritspeople.
EstablishingJusticehascreatedmanychangesinAmericanlivesandculturebutsofaritonly
beenforthegoodofthenation.
Thesecondpurposeofgovernment,asstatedinthepreamble,istoinsuredomestic
tranquility.Domestictranquilitymeansthatthegovernmenthasadutytoinvestigateor
prosecuteactionsthatcouldpotentiallyharmAmericaandherpeople,whetheritbedomesticor
abroad.Itmustkeepitsborderssafesothatthecountrycanprosper.Thereasonforthatsection
tobeaddedtothepreambleatthattimewastoinsurethatbritishspieswouldnotgetastrong
holdandspurupantiamericanactivities.
Oneinfamousdepartmentthatfallsdirectlyundertheexpectationofinsuringdomestic
tranquilityistheFederalBureauofInvestigation(FBI).Thisorganizationisainteldriven
nationalsecurityandlawenforcementagencythatinsuresthesafetyofallcitizensfrom
domesticthreats.TheFBIhasbeensuccessfulincreatingasaferAmericaforoveracenturynow

Lester4

andstillplantofurthertheirachievementsinthefuture.Thisisaprimeexampleofhowthe
governmentensuresitscitizenssafetyunderthepreamble.
Thepoliceareanotherexampleofhowthegovernmentinsuresdomestictranquilityfor
allitspeople.ThepoliceareadifferentthantheFBI,theFBIlooksatmorehighprofilecases
andbiggerpictureissuesthatAmericansface.ButthePolicemakesurethateverydayactivities,
donebythepeople,areincompliancewiththelaw.Thisinsuresdomestictranquilityina
smallermoremicroscale.
Themilitaryisaforcethatprotectsitspeoplenomatterthecost,menandwomenserve
withtheirlivestoinsuretheprosperityofitscountry.Allbranchesofthemilitaryinsure
domestictranquilitybyneutralizingthreatsthatcouldpotentiallyharmtheU.S.andhercitizens.
TheUnitedStatesArmedForceswerefoundedandestablishedonJune25,1775thatconsisted
offivebranches:MarineCorps,AirForce,Army,NavyandCoastGuard.Sincetheirfounding
day,theyhaverelentlesslykepttheAmericanpeoplesafe,tothebestoftheirability.
AnotherExampleofdomestictranquilitybeingprovidedforthepeopleiswhenthe
governmentfundsafterschoolactivitiesforchildreninatriskarea.Childreninatriskareasthat
donotfollowthetraditionsstandardsofgoingtoschoolandreceivingahighereducations,can
easilygetsuckedintoalifeofwrongdoingsthatcanhurtAmericans.Theseactivitieswereput
inplacetoallowstudentstospendmoretimedoingproductiveactivities,insteadofjoining
gangsorusingdrugs.Gangsareorganizationsthatthreatendomestictranquility,butwiththe
federallyfundedprogramsliketheBoysandGirlsClub,thegovernmentcancombatgangsand
themayhemtheybring.

Lester5

Insuringdomestictranquilityalsoinvolvesmakingsurethateverypersonwithinthe
bordersoftheU.S.nomatterrace,religionorcreedwillnotbediscriminatedagainstinworkor
pay.ThispropositionwaspassedintotheConstitutionastheThirteenthAmendment,and
ratifiedonDecember8,1865.Thisamendmentpromisestherightforallpeopletoworkand
supporttheirfamiliesandlivepeacefullives.
TheFBI,Police,Military,afterschoolactivities,andtheThirteenthAmendmenthaveall
shownverytangibleresultsthat,overall,havebeenpositivethroughouthistory.Buttherestill
havebeenfaultsinsomeofthesesdepartments.ThePolicehavehadahistoryofviolencetoward
blacksandotherraces.Inrecentyearstherehasbeenanumberofyoungmen,teens,and
childrenthathavebeenshotandkilledbypoliceforunbelievablereasons.Themilitaryhasalso
beeninvolvedinsomefaultswiththecurrentwaronterrorhowisstartedandhowithasbeen
handled.Completedomestictranquilityisapursuitandnotyetavictoryatthispointintime.
Thethirdpurposeofgovernmentistopromotethegeneralwelfare.Promotethegeneral
welfaremeansthatthegovernmenthasadutytotakecareofitscitizens.Itstomakessurethat
thegovernment,nomatterwhatthatis,doeswhatisbestforthepeople.Thatwhattheydowill
makethelivesoftheAmericanpeoplemorerewardingandeasier,thattheywon'thavetoworry
aboutthesimplethings,suchascleanwater,thatmanythirdworldcountriesmustbeconcerned
about.
Promotinggeneralwelfareisashortwayofsayingtakecareofthepeopleandtheir
needs.Oneneedisthelackofmoneyforfamiliesorpeoplewhiletheyareunemployedand
lookingforajob.Itisverydifficultforpeopletofindjobsduringcertainstumpsinthe
economy,sothegovernmentdevisedsocialwelfarepayments,alsoknownasunemployment

Lester6

insuranceorunemploymentcompensation.Thisallowspeopletosupportthemselvesandtheir
lovedoneswhiletheyareunemployedandlookingforajob.
Welfarechecksareanotherpartofpromotinggeneralwelfareforthepeople.Welfare
checksaremoneypaidtopeoplewhoselowincomeplacesthembelowthepredeterminedproper
livingstandard.Beingplacedonwelfarecanalsoinvolvereceivingmoneyintheformoffood
stampsorebtcards.Thisallowspeopletofeedthemselvesandlovedones.Welfareisavery
helpfultoolforthosewhofinditchallengingtoprovidebasicneed.
FoodandDrugsAssociation,mostcommonlyknownastheFDA,isanorganization
createdbythegovernmenttoregulate
humanandveterinarydrugs,biologicalproducts,medical
devices,ournationsfoodsupply,cosmetics,andproductsthatemitradiation.Theyalsoare
responsibleforspeedinguptheprocessofinnovationwhenitcomestomedicine.Theyarework
inputunderpromotethegeneralwelfaresectionofthepreamble.Theyprotectpeoplefrom
unsafeproductsthatareputonthemarket,andkeepthepeopleofAmericaandtheproductusers
safe.
FirstrespondersaretakenforgrantedindevelopedcountriessuchastheUnitedStates.
Theyaretheonesyoucallinemergenciesandtheywillbetherenomatterwhat.America
createdtheFireDepartment,EMTsandPolice.Theyarefederallyfundedpartof
TheU.S.
DepartmentofTransportation(D.O.T.).In1995theD.O.T.issuedamanualforanintermediate
leveloftrainingcalledFirstResponder.Theyfillthegapbetweenthetimeoftheemergency
tothetimethatandprofessionalmedicalpersonnelcantreatthevictim
.Theyareveryimportant
inpromotingthegeneralwelfareofthepeople.

Lester7

Anotherexampleofthegovernmentpromotinggeneralwelfareisevidentinthe
SanitationDepartments.Sanitationdealswiththedisposalofsolidwaste,recycling/garbageand
generalenvironmentallysoundplanningforitscity.TheymakesurethatthewaterAmericans
useanddrinkiscleaninperfectlyfiltered.Theymakesurethatthestreetsarecleanandthat
debrisisataminimum.Theymakesurethatthecitylooksaestheticallypleasingandthatwaste
wontcauseillnesses.Sanitationmakessurethatthegeneralwelfareofthepeopleispromoted
andthattheirhealthisnotfaultedbecauseofthelackinproperwastedisposal.
Promotingthegeneralwelfarehasbeenappliedthroughwelfare,unemploymentchecks,
firstresponders,theFDA,andtheSanitationDepartment.Theyareverysuccessfulinachieving
aconsistentproductiveperformancethathaveseveralimportantimplicationonallliveofpeople
wholiveinAmerica.Thesefederallyfundeddepartmentsandhandoutshavemadeamericaa
betterplaceforallwhochosetolivehere.

Lester8

WorkCited

"FifteenthAmendment."History.com.A&ETelevisionNetworks,2009.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/blackhistory/fifteenthamendment>.

"Emancipation_Proclamation."NationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration.National
ArchivesandRecordsAdministration,n.d.Web.27Jan.2016.
<https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/emancipation_proclamation/
>.

"U.S.ConstitutionalAmendmentsFindLaw."Findlaw.FindLaw,n.d.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://constitution.findlaw.com/amendments.html>.

Lester9

"The24thAmendmentEndedthePollTax."The24thAmendmentEndedthePollTax.
America'sStory,n.d.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/modern/jb_modern_polltax_1.html>.

"Preamble."LII/LegalInformationInstitute.CornellUniversitySchoolofLaw,n.d.Web.
27Jan.2016.<https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/preamble>.

DeJnior,WaldemarOliveira."Latitudes3Unit3Pages4549."Latitudes3Unit3Pages
4549.N.p.,14May2015.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://www.slideshare.net/waldandrade/latitudes3unit3pages4549?next_slidesh
ow=1>.

"AboutUs."FBI.FBI,17Mar.2010.Web.27Jan.2016.<https://www.fbi.gov/aboutus>.

"June14th:TheBirthdayoftheU.S.ArmyU.S.ArmyCenterofMilitaryHistory."June
14th:TheBirthdayoftheU.S.ArmyU.S.ArmyCenterofMilitaryHistory.U.S.
ArmyCenterofMilitaryHistory,15June2015.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://www.history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html>.

"Advertisement.""ProvidingfortheCommonDefense"AmericanBarAssociation,n.d.Web.

Lester10

27Jan.2016.
<http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_services/law_national_security/patriot_deba
tes2/the_book_online/ch6/ch6_ess1.html>.

VanBaren,Jennifer."WhatIsaWelfareCheck?"EHow.DemandMedia,n.d.Web.27Jan.
2016.<http://www.ehow.com/facts_7614079_welfarecheck.html>.

"PromotingtheGeneralWelfare."Answers.AnswersCorporation,n.d.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://www.answers.com/Q/What_are_examples_of_promoting_the_general_welfar
e>.

"CertifiedFirstResponders."Wikipedia.WikimediaFoundation,n.d.Web.27Jan.2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certified_first_responder>.
"WaterSupplyandSanitationintheUnitedStates."Wikipedia.WikimediaFoundation,n.d.
Web.27Jan.2016.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_the_United_States>.
"AboutDSNY."DSNY.NewYorkCityDepartmentofSanitation,n.d.Web.27Jan.2016.
<http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/about/insidedsny.shtml>.