What should be the role of government? At the national level? The state level? The local level?

Let’s begin by taking a look at the preamble to 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.”

Let’s assume, then, the role of the federal government was instituted to secure the basic rights of citizens: security; general safety (read about Monday’s food recall notice for Lean Cuisine Spaghetti and Meatballs at the end of this article) and welfare and opportunity, including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution explicitly provides that “powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states by the Constitution of the United States are reserved to the states or the people.” Essentially, state government’s role is to support the security, safety and public welfare functions of the federal government.

… and what about local government? Can local government laws and codes override or be in conflict with those established by the state or federal governments? No! Local governments states may not set lower standards for health and safety codes.

The Government Center for Local Government Services “Borough Council Handbook” says this about the role of municipal government:

“Through their elected representatives, citizens of a community can have a great deal of control over the general appearance and desirability of the community. This is also achieved through sponsorship or encouragement of local cultural or recreational activities, such as libraries, museums, concerts, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts, senior citizen centers and other community activities.

“The municipality is the focus of governmental legitimacy on the local level. Boroughs are given power and acknowledged the right to use that power to circumscribe individual rights for the good of society at large. People living in society need rules to govern their behavior. Government is the vehicle which writes and enforces these necessary rules. Local government performs this function for the community it governs.

“Municipal government is acknowledged as legitimate because its officers are chosen in popular elections, and because it is subject to constraints found in written constitutions and laws. Many of these constraints are designed to protect the rights of individuals from undue infringement by the municipality on behalf of society.Municipal governments provide the only authentic organized voice for a community. Human communities have a life of their own, continuing through the lifetimes of generations of citizens.

“The municipal government is the institutionalized representative of the community. It has an important role in planning for the community’s future development or renewal, finding solutions to present-day problems and conserving important parts of the community’s past in terms of buildings and traditions.The municipal government speaks for the community to the outside world. This includes state and federal administrative agencies, as well as in the state legislature and Congress.

“A rapidly growing role is in economic development where the municipal government represents community interests in encouraging or seeking employment-generating economic activities.The municipality provides important community services which are unsuited to private enterprise. Boroughs have traditionally been heavily involved in maintenance of streets, a function of growing importance in a society heavily dependent on the automobile. Municipal governments have the ultimate responsibility for public safety, including police, firefighting and emergency management. Boroughs often provide water, sewer and refuse collection services, although these may also be provided by private firms or municipal authorities.

“The municipality is the tool for regulation of the quality of life within the community. It can promulgate health and safety regulations to protect citizens and often has a role in enforcing state regulations in this field. The municipality can influence aesthetic factors and amenities which contribute much to the quality of life. This can be done by removal of nuisances, control of noxious activities, building regulation, control of development through zoning and subdivision ordinances, animal control and other regulatory activities.”

[NOTE]: We just happened onto this food safety recall notice minutes ago today, March 16, 2011.