promote the general Welfare
This, and the next part of the Preamble, are the culmination of everything that came before it, and is the whole point of having tranquility, justice, and defense was to promote the general welfare — to allow every state and every citizen of those states to benefit from what the government could provide. The framers wanted expansion of land holdings, industry, and investment, and they knew that a strong national government would be the beginning of that.
“Promote the general welfare" is simply a justification listed as to why a constitution was required. This meant that the document itself is asserted to "promote the general welfare”, or to work together for the common good . The Preamble does not grant any particular authority to the federal government and it does not prohibit any particular authority. It establishes the fact that the federal government has no authority outside of what follows the preamble, as amended. "Welfare" means health, happiness, prosperity or well-being. The country has an interest in promoting or maintaining the well-being and liberty of its people.
Congress was granted the power to promote the general welfare of the nation by the Constitution of the United States. It means that Congress should provide laws that are in keeping with the principles of the self governed. It means that Congress may provide legislation that acts in a general best interest of a nation.
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The General Welfare clause was a limitation of federal power written into the Preamble. Benjamin Franklin proposed a tax for canals. Canals were important for businesses to receive and ship merchandise.
Governor Morris of New York argued that it wasn't right to tax the whole people while only those towns that had canals would benefit. This started a discussion about the powers of the federal government to tax.
They finally came up with the General Welfare clause which the Founders meant that unless the whole people of the United States would benefit from the tax, you should not promote it. Only the general, or the whole, welfare of the people should benefit from the tax.
Questions, comments, snide remarks?
Congress was granted the power to promote the general welfare of the nation by the Constitution of the United States. It means that Congress should provide laws that are in keeping with the principles of the self governed. It means that Congress may provide legislation that acts in a general best interest of a nation.
----
The General Welfare clause was a limitation of federal power written into the Preamble. Benjamin Franklin proposed a tax for canals. Canals were important for businesses to receive and ship merchandise.
Governor Morris of New York argued that it wasn't right to tax the whole people while only those towns that had canals would benefit. This started a discussion about the powers of the federal government to tax.
They finally came up with the General Welfare clause which the Founders meant that unless the whole people of the United States would benefit from the tax, you should not promote it. Only the general, or the whole, welfare of the people should benefit from the tax.
Questions, comments, snide remarks?
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