What does the preamble of the Constitution imply about its authority?

The preamble of the Constitution begins with the phrase "We the People," which strongly emphasizes that the authority of the Constitution originates from the citizens of the United States. This highlights the concept of popular sovereignty, meaning that the power and legitimacy of the government are granted by the consent of the governed. The intention is to establish a government that is accountable to the people and operates for their benefit. This core principle of democracy suggests that the Constitution's authority is not derived from any external sources, such as states or divine intervention; rather, it is based on the collective will and agreement of the individuals who inhabit the nation.

The other choices do not align with the foundational principles expressed in the preamble. For instance, while states play a role in the federal system, the Constitution itself is a document meant to unify the nation under a federal authority that comes from the people, not the separate states. Similarly, the notion of the Constitution as a divine document is not supported by its language; it is a secular text crafted through human deliberation. Lastly, the idea that it must be approved by Congress misinterprets the foundational nature of the Constitution, which is meant to establish governance based on the people's authority rather than merely legislative approval.