It is not for the benefit of those who exercise the powers of government that constitutions, and the governments issuing from them, are established.

In all those matters the right of judging and acting are in those who pay, and not in those who receive.
A constitution is the property of a nation, and not of those who exercise the government.

All the constitutions of America are declared to be established on the authority of the people.

In France, the word nation is used instead of the people; but in both cases, a constitution is a thing antecedent to the government, and always distinct there from.
In England it is not difficult to perceive that everything has a constitution, except the nation.

Every society and association that is established, first agreed upon a number of original articles, digested into form, which are its constitution.