Which document begins with "We the People"?

The document that starts with "We the People" is the Constitution of the United States. This phrase is significant because it emphasizes the foundational principle of the Constitution: that the government's authority comes from the people. By beginning with these words, the framers established a democratic framework where governance is based on the consent of the governed.

The Constitution outlines the structure of the federal government, delineates the powers of each branch, and sets forth the rights of the citizens. This opening line sets the stage for the entire document, indicating that it is created by, for, and on behalf of the American people, which is a key aspect of democratic governance.

In contrast, the Bill of Rights is a series of amendments added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties, but it does not begin with "We the People." The Articles of Confederation served as the first governing document for the United States but lacks the unifying language found in the Constitution. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued during the Civil War, declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states and does not relate to the foundational governance principles present in the Constitution.