preamble
A preamble is an introductory statement that usually states the purpose and necessity of a law. “The Preamble” often refers to the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, in which the document’s authors define the principles of the Constitution:
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
While the U.S. Supreme Court has cited the preamble, the Court has largely disclaimed the legal weight that the section carries. See U.S. Constitution Annotated for more information. Preambles are also often common in other pieces of legislation. Lawmakers will often include a preamble to articulate the purpose of the law they have written. For example, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has a preamble in which the authors give a brief statement about the purpose of the law: “to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes.”
[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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