James Madison: Preserve Freedom by Embracing the Limitations of the Constitution

"support the constitution, which is the cement of the union, as well as its limitations and authorities . . . ." First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1809.

James Madison - considered the "Father of the Constitution" - purposefully demanded that Americans support the Constitution, not only as the "cement of the union," but as the keystone to protecting our liberties. Its whole purpose was to protect the unalienable rights of the people. To protect such rights, it was full of limitations - limitations on the powers of the federal government; limitations on the powers of each branch of government; limitations on its power to override individual liberties. Separation of powers, checks and balances, enumerated powers, federalism, and the Bill of Rights are all features of limited government, which hedges against tyranny.

Men doing good (or evil) often seek to tear down the protections of limited government to achieve their ends. But, Madison, of all the Founding Fathers, knew that the power to do good, was also the power to do evil - and he helped design a Constitution that was purposefully limited to protect our freedom. Keep us free, and support the limitations of the Constitution.

For more, visit America's Survival Guide and Patriot Week.

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