Defining General Welfare in the United States Constitution

When I hear the left mutter the words General Welfare to justify another entitlement program I just want to scream. The very fact they can get away with this is because the American people are uneducated on subject matter related to the Constitution. The General Welfare clause has nothing to do with the government providing charity to its people in the form of entitlements. Rather it refers to the well being of the states and the federal government through the power of fair taxation, something I would argue doesn't exist since the 16th Amendment was passed.

The definition of General Welfare was clearly written by James Madison in Federalist Paper #41. No where in the document will you see words like healthcare, retirement, food stamps, and all those other programs that get confused and unjustly clumped into the General Welfare clause. There are six areas the General Welfare clause covers, and the federal government serving as a baby sitter isn't one of them.

Pay attention and get education on General Welfare.

That we may form a correct judgment on this subject, it will be proper to review the several powers conferred on the government of the Union; and that this may be the more conveniently done they may be reduced into different classes as they relate to the following different objects: 1. Security against foreign danger; 2. Regulation of the intercourse with foreign nations; 3. Maintenance of harmony and proper intercourse among the States; 4. Certain miscellaneous objects of general utility; 5. Restraint of the States from certain injurious acts; 6. Provisions for giving due efficacy to all these powers.

Do you see anything there that resembles a government handout? Of course not. Any time you try to debate to a liberal that federal welfare programs are unconstitutional, they always bring up Article One Section Eight of the Constitution tying to expand the General Welfare clause to include entitlements. They will say Congress has the responsibility to provide welfare through the General Welfare clause. No they don't, and the next time they use this weak argument, point out Madison defined General Welfare in Federalist 41, and it includes these six items.

1. Security against foreign danger;
2. Regulation of the intercourse with foreign nations;
3. Maintenance of harmony and proper intercourse among the States;
4. Certain miscellaneous objects of general utility;
5. Restraint of the States from certain injurious acts;
6. Provisions for giving due efficacy to all these powers.