While forming our nation, the word sovereignty was critically important to the conversations of our Founding Fathers. Unfortunately, this word has virtually disappeared from modern conversation. Sovereignty means to have power and authority. Throughout history it has been common for societies to believe that rulers or governments are sovereign. This made the people subjects or even property of the state. Our Founding Fathers revolutionized this thinking by declaring that the people are sovereign and the only power or authority which the state obtains is through the delegation of that authority from the people. This was a powerful idea. This idea in forming a government would restrict the power of the government through a set of enumerated powers. Only those powers which the people specifically delegated, via the constitution, to the government could the government act upon. In all other areas, the power is retained with the people. This is why it is critical that we as a people first understand what powers we have enumerated and thereby given to the state, and in addition we must think very carefully before we enumerate, or allow to be enumerated, new powers by those who represent us in Washington.
