Taitano 1

Raylo Taitano
Mr. Buescher
American Government
January 25 2015
Purpose of Government
Government is run by consent of the people, and exists to
lead a civilized society, and protect its people from external
and internal danger. The purpose of the government is a debatable
topic in which many have different opinions on. The preamble, or
the introduction of the constitution, outlines the purposes: in
Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our posterity (US Const., Preamble).

While the preamble

states the goals and purposes, it does not state how to achieve
these. The three purposes I chose to research on is how the
government: promotes general welfare, insures domestic
tranquility, and secures the blessings of liberty.
Promoting the general welfare is one of the basic goals of a
government. General welfare is classified as the concern of the
government for the health, peace, morality, and safety of its
citizens (online dictionary). The most-basic example of general
welfare begins with an affordable, quality health-care. In the
United States, fifty-eight percent of community hospitals are

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nonprofit, another twenty-two percent being for-profit, twenty

percent of hospitals being government owned (Elisabeth
Rosenthal, NY Times). The United States spends the most per
person compared to all other countries. An annual $3.8 trillion
is the price America pays to provide healthcare (Forbes). Another
example of promoting the general welfare is providing clean water
and sewage system. Most Americans are served by publicly owned
water and sewer utilities, which can either come from
groundwater, or on surface sources. It is the job of the
government (whom works along with other associations) to deliver
water to its people. Another example of providing general welfare
is providing free primary schooling. The United States Department
of Education per capita spending on education is among the
highest in the world at $70+ billion (Tamar Lewin, The New
York Times). The federal government leaves the determination of
curricula and educational standards to the state and local school
districts (US Department of Education).

The US Government also

provides food assistance. Administered by the Food and Nutrition

Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, low-income and noincome people are provided by the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (Nutrition Assistance, FNS). And lastly, the
government provides public housing. The National Affordable
Housing Act which was established in 1990 provides housing needs
for more than 4.3 million low-income families (Allen R. Hays

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Federal Gov. and Urban Housing). They also provide emergency

shelters for the homeless. It is also the responsibility of the
government to provide a stable economy.
The United States government works hard on providing general
welfare as promised in the preamble of the constitution.
Providing effective healthcare (both in prevention and chronic
care) plays a big role in the governments purpose and works.
Schooling in America is funded federally, but the standards of
learning is not regulated and it up to the states to do. The
way the schooling system is set up can be improved. The No Child
Left Behind law, mandates testing on reading and math. If the
students in the school pass the test, the school gets money.
Because of this, some teachers only teach what is on the tests
(and do so in a force-fed manner) so the kid will pass and the
school gets more money. The school system is flawed. The
responsibility of maintaining a stable economy is done through
taxes, fines, banks, stocks, the IRS, FDIC, etc.
The government has a purpose to maintain law, and peace
within the country. And also to insure protection against outside
invasion. (Insure domestic tranquility) The government makes sure
this is done by providing the public with Police and FBI, fire
departments, hospitals, military, and the CIA. The police exists
to enforce state and local laws, and the FBI exists to enforce
federal law. The police work to maintain order, enforce law, and

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serve those in need. The FBI works to protect and defend the
United States against terrorist and foreign intelligence threats
(FBI.gov). They make sure there is peace and harmony within the
country. The U.S. Fire Administration works for a fire-safe
America by providing fire-prevention and public education
(U.S.F.A.). Hospitals provide patient treatment with specialized
staff and equipment. The American military works to ensure
protection within the country from outside invasion.
Insuring domestic tranquility is the governments job.
Police is paid by the government, and the government decides how
much they are paid by looking at the areas crime rate.

Police

and FBI work to enforce laws domestically. This combined with the
military and CIA to make sure we are safe from outside attack;
and hospitals for the sick provide domestic tranquility.
The government also has a duty to protect the blessings of
liberty (freedom) so we can enjoy it. And also to secure liberty
so our offspring can enjoy it as well. The government secures
these blessings of liberty by having safeguards such as checks
and balances, amendments, etc. For example, it is a secure
blessing of liberty to have freedom of speech, freedom from
control, being able to stand up for our rights, stand against a
tyranny,etc.
Checks and Balances, or the separation of powers is the
system the government was to be divided into three branches of

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government, each branch having particular powers (S.S.H.C). Each

branch has its own power, and each branch has certain power over
other branches. Doing so, this prevents any one-branch from
becoming too powerful, thus, avoiding a tyranny. The twenty-seven
amendments in the constitution is another example of securing the
blessings of liberty.
In conclusion, the government exists to promote peace within
a society by providing national defense from foreign attack,
civil services to protect and defend citizens, and laws to
protect the rights and blessings of liberty of the people.

Citations:
Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "Health Cares Road to Ruin." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 21 Dec. 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.

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"The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription." National Archives and

Records Administration.

National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2015.

"General Welfare." The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.

"Annual U.S. Healthcare Spending Hits $3.8 Trillion." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d.
Web. 25 Jan. 2015.

"An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education-- Pg 1." An Overview of the U.S.
Department of
Education-- Pg 1. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.

"Food and Nutrition Service." Food and Nutrition Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan.
2015.

"Fire Prevention and Public Education." Fire Prevention and Public Education. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.

FBI. FBI, 19 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.