Research
Dimmock, Aaron; Born, Dana. "A More Perfect Union: Meaning in the Preamble of the United States Constitution," Journal of Character and Leadership Development (Fall 2023): Vol. 10 No. 3.
Faculty Authors
What’s the issue?
Written over 200 years ago, the United States Constitution is still a powerful document, and its preamble serves as a guidepost to measure progress towards building a prosperous nation. Leadership experts say it is wise to revisit the framers’ original language and intention to fully understand what it means to create “a more perfect union.”
What does the research say?
The article authors provide historical context to understand the Constitution’s creation. They examine the preamble’s language about establishing justice, “insuring” domestic tranquility, providing a common “defence,” promoting the general welfare, and securing the “Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”
A more perfect union does not just happen, the authors say. It is the responsibility of leaders to embrace the meaning of the preamble in order to move the country forward.