In 1787, the United States was a young nation whose leaders recognized the need for a strong government.
Without a good plan for government, confusion could arise about authority and decision-making processes. Therefore, a group of leaders gathered to create a plan. They drafted the Constitution to explain how the nation’s democracy works.
In a democratic system, citizens elect representatives to govern them. That makes the United States a republic where power flows from the people. The Constitution begins with “We the People. . . .” The rights of the people are written in the Constitution as are their responsibilities, or duties, to the country.
