--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Constitution is not a law, but it…" description: "\"The Constitution is not a law, but it empowers the people to make laws... The Constitution tells us what shall not be a lawful tender... The legislatur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-is-not-a-law-but-it-emp_1566755.jpg" --- # The Constitution is not a law, but it empowers the people… ![“The Constitution is not a law, but it empowers the people to make laws... The Constitution tells us what shall not be a lawful tender... The legislature has ceded up to us the privilege of enacting such laws as are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States... The different…” quote by Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-is-not-a-law-but-it-emp_1566755.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-is-not-a-law-but-it-emp_1566755.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/joseph-smith-jr-1647_america_the-constitution-is-not-a-law-but-it-emp_1566755.jpg) > “The Constitution is not a law, but it empowers the people to make laws... The Constitution tells us what shall not be a lawful tender... The legislature has ceded up to us the privilege of enacting such laws as are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States... The different states, and even Congress itself, have passed many laws diametrically contrary to the Constitution of the United States...” [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Constitution sets limits; people retain power to legislate within those bounds. **In simple terms:** The Constitution defines what laws can’t be made. Key Takeaway Know constitutional limits when creating laws. Themes constitution lawmaking citizen power legal limits government Mood thoughtful cautious Type political educational When to use this quote - state legislatures - local councils - constitutional conventions Key Concepts federalism separation of powers citizen sovereignty Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure laws respect constitutional limits? - How can citizens influence lawmaking effectively? A Different Perspective Interpretations vary, and political realities may hinder strict adherence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution of the united states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-of-the-united-states/) [Empowering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowering/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [If the Constitution says that marriage is between a man and woman, then things that are inconsistent with that would be inconsistent with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/if-the-constitution-says-that-marriage-is-between-a-man-and-woman/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [ According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I \[the Lord\] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/according-to-the-laws-and-constitution-of-the-people-which-i-the-lord/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ Where has the genius of the pedistal \[sic\] of the laws and constitution of our boasted country fled? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/where-has-the-genius-of-the-pedistal-sic-of-the-laws-and-constitution/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [If there is one set of laws, one Constitution for every citizen, its protections hopefully applied equally to all, then why do the results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-there-is-one-set-of-laws-one-constitution-for-every-citizen-its/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [The laws are, and ought to be, relative to the constitution, and not the constitution to the laws. A constitution is the organization of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-laws-are-and-ought-to-be-relative-to-the-constitution-and-not-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [In violation of the Habeas Corpus Act and the fundamental laws of our constitution these men have never been brought to trail or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-amery/in-violation-of-the-habeas-corpus-act-and-the-fundamental-laws-of-our/) [John Amery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-amery/) > [All our work, our whole life is a matter of semantics, because words are the tools with which we work, the material out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/all-our-work-our-whole-life-is-a-matter-of-semantics-because-words/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The Constitution is the fundamental rule for people to live in society. 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We don't get inalienable rights from the Constitution; we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/america-derives-its-laws-from-its-constitution-it-derives-its-values/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [You will see the constitution of the United States almost destroyed. It will hang like a thread… A terrible revolution will take place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/you-will-see-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-almost-destroyed/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [We say, that the Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/we-say-that-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-is-a-glorious/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Hence we say, that the Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/hence-we-say-that-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-is-a-glorious/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## More by Joseph Smith, Jr > [ According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I \[the Lord\] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/according-to-the-laws-and-constitution-of-the-people-which-i-the-lord/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/all-your-losses-will-be-made-up-to-you-in-the-resurrection-provided/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. 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Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/salvation-cannot-come-without-revelation-men-of-the-present-time/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ Will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs \[the ancient saints'\] if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/will-not-the-lord-hear-my-prayers-and-listen-to-my-cries-as-soon-as/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/let-the-saints-remember-that-great-things-depend-on-their-individual/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/friendship-is-the-grand-fundamental-principle-of-mormonism/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) [Explore all 219 Joseph Smith, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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