The Preamble:

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

In 52 words, the purpose of our government is stated clearly and concisely. It spells out exactly what our government is supposed to do and not do.

Our government is constituted to:

#1  Establish justice
#2  Insure domestic tranquillity
#3  Provide for the common defense
#4  Promote the general welfare   (promote, NOT establish, NOT insure, NOT provide)
#5  Secure the blessings of Liberty

Some people wrongly believe that it is our Federal government's responsibility
to be all things to all people and to give everybody everything that they want.
The Constitution, however, clearly  does not  provide any support for that false notion.

On the contrary, Section 8 of Article I lists (and limits) what specific areas our government is supposed to support.  Politicians have attempted to buy votes by creating programs to give away money and services to people far beyond and above anything that our Constitution ever suggested.

Article I
Section 1   Grants all legislative powers to the Congress.
Section 2   Specifies how the House of Representatives shall be composed.
Section 3   Specifies how the Senate shall be composed.
Section 4   Specifies the manner of electing Senators and Representatives.
Section 5   Establishes the authority of each house over its affairs.
Section 6   Establishes compensation and privileges for Senators and Reps.
Section 7   Establishes how laws are to be made and approved.
Section 8   Describes the functions that our government is authorized to support.
Section 9   Describes certain functions that our Federal government is not supposed to do.
Section 10  Places certain limits on individual state's authority.

Article II   Establishes the President's powers, authority, and limitations.
Article III  Establishes the courts and judicial system's authority.
Article IV   Establishes states rights and preroggatives.
Article V   Makes provisions for amendments to be made to our Constitution.
Article VI   Establishes the basis of the law of the land.
Article VII   Explains how the Constitution was ratified by the States.

27 Amendments follow.         Click to view the complete Constitution