about the state and power -
clearly, all real authority over anything derives from and is proportional to the power to deny, dilute, limit, damage, or destroy that thing.
the founders knew this.
This leads into a deeper discussion of the intrinsic validity (or lack thereof) of the concept of "rights" than I am able to pursue.
Some work has been done on rights; there would be several shelves of legal surveys on rights in most public libraries. Less, nearly none, on the state. Power and authority is not necessary to either, although in our modern world we have seen our simple state take on considerable power and authority.