When our nation was formed the founders drew up a contract between the States and it's people for the establishment of a federal government. These same people had experience with a form of government, the Articles of Confederation, that had existed from the end of the war and it was proving completely inadequate. They recognized the need for a stronger central government.
That contract detailed the form of the new government, the power the States relinquished to it, and the duties and limitations of that government to the States and to the people.
The contract required the federal government to provide mail service and the building of postal roads to support that service. It also empowered the federal government to maintain a navy and to raise an army. It gave the federal government the sole responsibility to regulate interstate commerce and the power to print money.
The contract ceded the sole power to the federal government to negotiate treaties with foreign nations, collect dues and duties on goods imported.
The contract placed limitations on that same federal government regarding the rights and liberties with respect to the States and it's people. The contract and it's first amendments, specified that the government shall not establish a state religion nor infringe on the rights of the people to assemble, the freedom of the press, their right to speak against the government nor to keep and bear arms.
The contract also specified the manner in which it could be amended, and that has happened a number of times of the years.
There are those that don't look at that contract as binding, but rather, it's merely a guideline to be taken seriously only when convenient, or in line with their thinking. They get very upset when the courts, specifically the Supreme Court, reaffirms that he Constitution is a binding contract and it means what it says.
The contract, The Constitution, clearly specifies that all powers not ceded to the federal government shall remain with the states.
The left, more and more, want the courts to step in and legislate for positions that they are unable to get through their normal legislative processes, but recent Supreme Court ruling reaffirm the separation of powers between the states and the federal government. They recognized the Constitution as a binding contract that is to be upheld. We will see how long that lasts. I hope a long time.
