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.
The Founding Fathers saw this point as supremely critical in forming our government. They knew that governmental powers, by nature, will expand. Even the tenth amendment which read, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people,” was not enough for many. They argued for a Bill of Rights that would put in black and white a set of rights that could not be infringed by the government. They knew that because governments are run by men and men naturally seek more authority and power, that keeping power of the government limited is the greatest challenge.
Our Creator endowed us with certain unalienable rights. It matters not if you believe this Creator to be a divine being or the natural universe, the fact remains that once consciousness was realized in mankind certain rights came with it. We know some of these to be life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Because we have these rights we have sovereignty, the power to choose, also called agency. This power is one we must safeguard as our highest priority. It is with this that we grow and live. Without sovereignty, life, liberty and the pursuite of happiness cease.
Let’s examine a simple example. If I were the last man on Earth I would have full power and authority to build any building on any land as I desired. There would be no one else who could hold any power or authority in that regard. Along with that power I would have the fullest opportunity to learn from my choices. I could learn what results from trying to build a skyscraper on Laguna beach, or a grass hut in the Andes mountains, or a brick house in the jungle, etc. All these experiences would be at my disposal and I could live, learn, and grow in any way I desired in this regard. I would have complete sovereignty. In the real world however, I cannot do this. We as a people have relinquished our sovereignty in this regard by delegating zoning powers and permit power to the state. They decide where I can build, what I can build, and when I can build. I no longer have the option, these choices have been pre-determined for me. I cannot find out what it is like to build on Laguna beach, the government will arrest me. I am not suggesting that all delegation of sovereignty is bad or improper, some of it is essential to create a sustainable society. The clearest example is the power of national defense. The only effective way to defend a large society is to delegate that authority to a centralized body so they may specialize in defense while the rest of us live without threat of annihilation from enemy states.
Today government is growing, and reaching wider and deeper into our lives. With every new law we have one more choice taken from us. We no longer have authority or sovereignty regarding that thing. We have seatbelt laws, and helmet laws, and gun restrictions, and speech restrictions, and taxation requirements, and assembly restrictions, and land use restrictions, and commerce limits, and the list goes on and on and on. Not all of these are bad, but many laws are excessive, government power which has appeared because we the people are not safeguarding our authority. We hand it over too easily. The founders knew this was dangerous because once authority is delegated from the people to the government it is rarely ever given back without rebellion and the shedding of the blood of the people. On the international stage these questions are coming up more and more. International bodies seek authority over the sovereignty of the United States, and thereby its people. Organizations such as the International Criminal Court, the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Union, the World Trade Organization, and many others desire the government of the United States to sign international treaties like the ICC Treaty, Kyoto Treaty, The Law of the Sea Treaty, and others to bind us to the dictates of these bodies. These are all well intentioned but wrong. The sovereignty of the American people must remain with The People and only delegated to governmental bodies of the United States of America. It is unconstitutional for our government to delegate the authority which the people delegated to them to an international body or organization, they do not have that power.
When the government wants additional power or we are tempted to ask the government to become responsible for an aspect of our lives, we should stop ourselves and ask, “does the government really need to have this power and why? Am I OK with never having this power back?” The answers to those questions should be very clear in our minds before we grant so great a gift. The more authority or sovereignty we delegate to the government the less authority we retain. We should desire, as a free people, to retain as much authority as possible and protect our sovereignty.
