“We the People”: Maybe We’ve Forgotten Who Holds the Power

The power of “We” starts with us.

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Everyone is talking about power. Who has it. Who lost it. Who is taking it back. Which party controls Congress. How much power the President has. What the Supreme Court will do. Who will be “in power” after the next election. But maybe we’ve forgotten something.

The Constitution doesn’t begin: “We the President…” 
It doesn’t begin: “We the Congress…” or “We the Supreme Court…”
It certainly doesn’t begin: “We the Republicans…” or “We the Democrats”
It begins: “We the People.”
Maybe it’s time we remembered what that means!

Government has power. Congress has power. The President has power. The courts have power. But that power exists within a constitutional system established in the name of “We the People.”

The Declaration of Independence goes even further. Government derives its just powers from: “the consent of the governed.” That’s us. “We the People…”

So here’s a reminder for everyone entrusted with public office: 

The power you exercise is not a possession. It isn’t yours to protect your career. It isn’t yours to reward your friends. It isn’t yours to benefit your donors. It isn’t yours to serve only the people who voted for you. It isn’t yours to advance only the interests of people who look like you, think like you, worship like you or agree with you.

Public office is a public trust. You are there to serve the people. All of them. Because “We the People…” has never meant: “We the people” who agree with me.

And political power isn’t a trophy awarded to the winning team. It’s authority exercised within constitutional limits. That’s a challenge for every President. Every member of Congress. Every judge. Every governor. Every mayor. Every elected official. Regardless of party.

But here’s where this gets uncomfortable. They’re not the only ones who may have forgotten. Maybe we have too.

We complain that nobody listens…Did we speak?
We complain about elections…Did we vote?
We complain about our representatives…Did we contact them?
We complain about decisions being made…Did we show up before they were made?
We complain that politicians have too much power. Maybe we should also ask: How much of our own responsibility did we simply stop exercising?

Because “We the People” is not a slogan. It’s not a bumper sticker. It’s not three inspirational words written on old parchment. It’s a responsibility.

Vote…Learn…Question…Speak…Listen…Show up…Peacefully assemble…Petition your government…Contact your representatives…Attend the meeting…Read beyond the headline…Verify before you share…Serve your community…Stand up when something is wrong…And hold the person you voted for accountable just as quickly as the person you voted against.

Because if something is wrong when they do it but acceptable when your side does it – that’s not principle. That’s partisanship!!

And there’s another word in “We the People..” we’ve forgotten.

“We…”
Not me. Not my party. Not my movement. Not my side.

“We…”
That includes the person who voted differently. The person whose politics frustrate you. The person whose yard sign makes you roll your eyes. The person whose worldview you struggle to understand. They’re part of “We the People…” too. That’s what makes this difficult.

Freedom isn’t just my freedom. Rights aren’t just my rights. America isn’t just my America. If I only defend rights when they protect people like me, I’m not defending rights. I’m defending advantage. And maybe that’s where we need to look in the mirror.

Because we’ve become very good at asking: What are they doing with their power?
Maybe it’s time to ask: What are you doing with yours?

Are you informed? Did you vote? Do you know who represents you? Have you contacted them? Do you know what your local government is deciding? Have you shown up? Have you spoken? Have you listened? Will you challenge someone you voted for? Will you defend the rights of someone you disagree with? 

Or have you reduced “We the People…” to voting occasionally, posting frequently and complaining constantly? Because that’s not participation. That’s spectatorship. And,  “We the People…” were never meant to be spectators.

But that’s also why I’m hopeful. Because we haven’t lost our responsibility. We haven’t lost our voice. We haven’t lost our ability to participate. We can show up.

We can learn. We can vote. We can speak. We can organize. We can peacefully assemble. We can petition. We can ask hard questions. We can demand accountability without demanding conformity. We can disagree without becoming enemies. We can refuse to surrender our thinking to a political party. We can hold leaders we support to the same standards as leaders we oppose. 

And we can remind every person entrusted with public authority: You serve the public. Not just your party. Not just your supporters. Not just the powerful. All of us!

But then we need to accept the challenge that comes back to us. Because “We the People” isn’t just a reminder to those in government. It’s a challenge to those of us being governed.

Stop waiting for someone else to speak. Stop assuming someone else will show up. Stop believing one election will fix everything. Stop handing your responsibility to a political party and calling that participation.

Use your voice…Learn…Vote…Speak…Listen…Question…Participate…Show up…And when necessary, peacefully stand up.

Not because America is hopeless. Because it isn’t.
Not because our system is beyond repair. But because self-government has always required something from us – Us.

Maybe politicians have forgotten. Maybe political parties have forgotten. Maybe institutions have forgotten. But “We the People…” cannot afford to forget.

Those first three words aren’t simply how the Constitution begins. They’re where our responsibility begins. “We the People…” isn’t just something written on parchment. It’s a job description.

And maybe it’s time we started acting like it!