Original Author James Madison
What kinds of national laws and powers should the government have in order to keep the country safe and fair?
The national government must be able to make laws about things that affect the whole country, such as keeping the country safe, handling relationships with other countries, making sure states work together peacefully, and creating rules that apply to all states. Without national laws, the states might not agree or cooperate.
If each state made all its own rules, laws would be different everywhere, people might be treated unfairly in different states, states might argue with each other, the country would not act as one united nation. National laws help bring order and unity.
The national government must handle relationships with other countries. Individual states cannot negotiate with other nations effectively; other countries would be confused by 13 different policies. The United States needs to speak with one voice. This keeps the country strong and respected.
The United States must act together in important matters like defense, trade, foreign policy and national laws. If states act separately in these areas, the country will become weak and divided.
The Constitution solves these problems by giving national power for big shared issues, leaving local issues to the states, creating clear rules about who does what, and preventing confusion between governments.
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