The government of the United States is merely the agency by which and through which the people protect their own rights and liberties. Our government may be said to be the organized will of all the people. The people govern in this country, and the men and the means by which they govern all combined may be said to be the government. But do not ever forget this fact: the President is not a master, but a servant. The President, Senators, congressmen, and judges, in the Nation; the Governors, State Senators, and State Representatives in the States are only agents or servants of the people to carry out the people's will. Also do not forget that the power of government does not rest in Washington, the capital of the Nation, nor at the capitals of the different States. The power of government exists all over these United States. The power of government exists right in the homes and hearts of the people.(8)
The President has no power except that conferred upon him by the Constitution and the laws which the people have adopted. Neither have the Senators, the congressmen, nor the judges any power except that given by the people, and the people at any time can take away any part of the power given. When I say the people, I mean of course all the people. Not that all the people must agree to any law to have it enacted. The majority of the people make the laws as a rule. We shall take this up later and consider it fully. Government is power to exercise authority. Authority is in the people, and the authority of the people is expressed as they want it in laws which they make.
But what is government for? Why have any government?
Government is organized to protect human rights.(9) Perhaps if you were a giant possessed of wonderful wisdom you would not need any law to protect your rights because you would be big enough, powerful enough, and wise enough to resist any person who might undertake to interfere with your rights; but we are not all giants and we are not all wise. In fact there are very few giants in the world. It is true, however, that some are bigger and stronger than others; and sometimes these big, strong people are selfish, wicked, or envious. They see that a weaker person has something which they want, and being big and strong, if there were no law to restrain them, they would take it.