Family Security Matters » Publications » Basic American Principles

Family Security Matters » Publications » Basic American Principles: "Principles are important – without them we get off track and lose our way. Many believe that our federal government has lost its way while others just don't understand why so many object to the 'change' taking place today.

Let's look at some of the foundational principles of American government; the principles that made our nation great.

The purpose of our government is to secure our rights

The Declaration of Independence established the American view of the rights of man and the duties of government. 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.' They concluded by stating that our 'separate but equal station' with Britain and other governments of the world would give us 'full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do.'"