Diagramming the Preamble
to the Constitution of the United
States
Here is our diagram of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States.
It is based on our understanding of the use of "in order to" as a subordinating
conjunction that introduces a series of infinitival clauses (without subjects)
that, in turn, modify the compound verbs "do ordain" and "establish."
See A Grammar of Contemporary English by Randolph Quirk, Sidney Greenbaum,
Geoffrey Leech, and Jan Svartvik. Longman Group: London. 1978. p. 753.
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.