The state has a moral purpose—and a limited mandate

Every legal order makes judgments about protection and the common good. Government exists to secure justice, peace, order, defense, law, and essential public goods. Moral neutrality is impossible; constitutional restraint is indispensable.

Because coercive authority is dangerous, a stewardship state is bounded by due process, separated powers, federalism, property, speech, conscience, and mediating institutions. It should do important things competently without aspiring to administer the entirety of human life.