[robertpaulsen]

"Then we agree that a constitution defines the operational bounds of a government. In order to do so, it defines the areas of sovereignty that administrators and elected officials may assume, by specifically naming powers, over the states and people, that they can wield."

Yes. And those constitutions also define the rights protected.

[William Terrell]

Yes. And those constitutions also define the rights protected.

No. The federal constitution defines the sovereign powers of that government, beyond which it is not to stray. In a positive list of grants to a government, all not listed are therefore not granted.

You agree?