common welfare
[ˈkɑːmən ˈwɛlˌfɛr]
noun phrase
bem comum
1. The health, happiness, and prosperity of the general public or society as a whole
The government's primary responsibility is to promote the common welfare of its citizens.
A responsabilidade primária do governo é promover o bem comum de seus cidadãos.
2. The collective benefit or interest shared by all members of a community or nation
Laws should be designed with the common welfare in mind, not individual interests.
As leis devem ser concebidas com o bem comum em mente, não interesses individuais.
This phrase is deeply embedded in constitutional and legal contexts in both Brazil and the USA. In the US Constitution's Preamble, 'common welfare' is one of the foundational purposes of government. In Brazil, 'bem comum' appears in constitutional frameworks and is used in political and social discourse to invoke collective responsibility and social solidarity. The concept reflects democratic values of prioritizing community needs over individual interests.
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