In previous Constitution 101 articles, I’ve shown that states were intended to serve as a check on federal power and that nullification creates a process to do so. I also pointed out that the federal government does indeed enjoy supremacy, but delegated powers limit that supremacy. All legitimate federal act must be “in pursuance” of..
Read moreWhat Brand Am I ?
What brand are you? Are you a libertarian? Are you a conservative? Are you a liberal? Are you an anarchist? Are you a minarchist? Are you a Democrat? Are you a Republican? Are you a constitutionalist? I get these questions a lot. In truth, I suppose it depends on whom gets to write the definitions...
Read moreGetting from Here to There: The Long Road to Freedom
From time to time, our work at the Tenth Amendment Center comes under attack from anarcho-capitalists. (Or if you prefer anarchists, voluntarists or simply libertarians.) These folks object to our emphasis on the Constitution because they argue that "the state" and its governments lack legitimacy. The argue that by its very nature, even a "limited"..
Read moreConstitution 101: Federal Supremacy
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution..
Read moreConstitution 101: Nullification
So far in the Constitution 101 series, we've established that the Constitution created a limited federal government meant to exercise only specific, enumerated powers. All other authority remains with the states and the people. We also discussed the fact that the people stand as the sovereign in the system, and the Constitution was ratified by..
Read morePerhaps I Got It Right: A Nice Endorsement for ‘Our Last Hope’
When I set out to write the moral, historical and constitutional case for nullification, I knew I had a tough task ahead of me. After all, most Americans have never heard of nullification. And the constitutional and philosophical principles nullification rest on remain alien to even well-educated Americans. My goal in writing Our Last Hope:..
Read moreConstitution 101: Was the Constitution Ratified By States or One American People?
This is the third article in a series on basic constitutional principles. Was the Constitution ratified by the American people as “one nation” or was it ratified by the states? As pointed out in last week’s Constitution 101 post, the people stand as the sovereign in the system. So it was the people who ratified..
Read moreDoes the Bible Demand Political Redistribution of Wealth?
According to a ThinkProgress article, Pope Francis says the bible demands redistribution of wealth. The article reports that "Pope Francis called for 'the legitimate redistribution of economic benefits' on Friday." Francis used the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector (Luke 19:1-10) who pledged to give half of everything he owned to the poor and make..
Read moreLimiting States, Expanding Feds: Amendment Effort on the Left
My latest article just published over at the Tenth Amendment Center. It examines the constitutional amendment proposals of retired Justice John Paul Stevens. To say they are dangerous would be an understatement. Following is an excerpt. You can read the whole article over at the Tenth Amendment Center. Retired Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens..
Read moreConstitution101: The Sovereignty of the People
This is the second article in a series on basic constitutional principles. Read last week's article HERE. The federal government acts like it stands as sovereign in the American system, but that was never intended by those who created it. In fact, the federal government was never meant to serve as anything more than an..
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