We the People
Preamble's first words
We the People is the opening phrase of the United States Constitution, establishing that governmental authority derives from citizens rather than a monarch or ruling class.
The phrase now serves as shorthand for American democratic ideals or the citizenry's collective voice: We the People demand accountability from our representatives.
It appears frequently in political rhetoric across the spectrum, often invoked to claim popular legitimacy for a cause.
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
- democracyRule by the people
- citizensMembers of a nation
- foundingCreating an organization originally
founding fathers · fathers · liberty · justice · America · union · rights · Bill of Rights · declaration · independence · freedom · government · sovereignty · vote · nation · civic · civic duty · consent
- constitutional lawConstitution, Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment
- ConstitutionBill of Rights, preamble, articles, U.S. Constitution, Article I
- TV CourtsJudge Judy
We the Peopledivine right of kings
Monarchs rule by celestial mandate
absolute monarchy · autocracy · the throne · rule by decree · theocracy
We the Peopletyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
despotism · authoritarianism · totalitarianism · absolutism · autocracy
people, person, personal, personally, personality, personable, personify, personnel, impersonal