What three words begin the Preamble to the United States Constitution?

The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with the words “We the People.”

The phrase introduces the Constitution’s statement of purpose and identifies the people as the source of the government’s authority. The Preamble says the Constitution is intended to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for defense, promote the general welfare, and secure liberty.

The Preamble is an introduction rather than a list of enforceable powers. The Constitution’s articles and amendments provide the detailed structure and legal rules of the federal government.

The wording is notable because an earlier draft began by listing the individual states. The final wording used “We the People,” presenting the Constitution as an act of the American people rather than simply an agreement among separate state governments.