Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Why do we consider the founding of this country to be such a momentous event that changed the trajectory of world history?  Think about this: governments had risen and fallen from power for millennia before our country’s birth.  What was the one big idea that made our founding so unique and its effects long-lasting?  To answer this lofty question, we are thrilled to have a leading American scholar as our guest today.  Dr. Samuel Postell is Assistant Director of the Lyceum Scholars Program at Clemson University and will expand upon the origins of checks and balances in our...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

We know checks and balances between the branches of federal government is a hallmark of our republic.  But have you considered the checks and balances the Founders crafted into the design of Congress itself, with the House and Senate splitting legislative power?  Why did the founders build in checks to prevent too much power residing within one chamber of our bi-cameral legislature and how did they accomplish this objective?  To answer these questions and so many more, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Matthew Green as our special guest this week.  Dr. Green is a prolific...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Did you know the United States Army is older than the United States?  The Army has its origins in 1775 at a time when the colonists had a distrust of a standing permanent army like the British employed in the colonies.  As such, it was a not a permanent army.  The War of 1812 showed our country the need for a permanent national army. In the ensuing years, the United States Army has fought a Civil War, two World Wars and protected American interests around the world.  To share further history and the impact of our Army, we are honored to have a very distinguished...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Did you know the United States Army is older than the United States?  The Army has its origins in 1775 at a time when the colonists had a distrust of a standing permanent army like the British employed in the colonies.  As such, it was a not a permanent army.  The War of 1812 showed our country the need for a permanent national army. In the ensuing years, the United States Army has fought a Civil War, two World Wars and protected American interests around the world.  To share further history and the impact of our Army, we are honored to have a very distinguished...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Thomas Jefferson cemented his legacy as an incredible orator and writer when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, almost 250 years ago. His soaring rhetoric drew inspiration from multiple government and historic traditions: from John Locke to the Magna Carta to the Enlightenment.  He used phrases and words that deserve special attention.  What did Jefferson mean when he talked about unalienable rights, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, self-evident truths, and the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God?  To shed important insight into this...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Did you know the phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in our Constitution?  The phrase was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802.  The First Amendment does guarantee “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”  What was the intent of the founders in codifying this in the Constitution?  Did they intend to keep religion out of government or rather government out of religion?  To help us answer these questions and so many...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Did you know the phrase “separation of church and state” does not appear in our Constitution?  The phrase was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802.  The First Amendment does guarantee “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”  What was the intent of the founders in codifying this in the Constitution?  Did they intend to keep religion out of government or rather government out of religion?  To help us answer these questions and so many...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Our Constitution does not spend a lot of time detailing foreign policy powers.  We know the president can appoint ambassadors, negotiate treaties and use executive agreements in our relations with other governments.  But beyond that, what is the role of the presidency?  What are the checks and balances with the other branches?  What do we mean when we say foreign policy is an “inherent” power?  To walk us through this complex power, we are pleased to have Dr. James S. Robbins as our guest this week.  Dr. Robbins is Dean of Academics, Institute of World...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

We have laws in our country passed by Congress.  Then we have regulations that come out of the bureaucracy.  Our guest today argues that when government grows, individual liberty shrinks.  Our guest, Andrew Langer, is the president of the Institute for Liberty.  He is going to discuss the benefits and costs (upwards of $4 trillion annually) of regulations, the process to challenge them and the impact of the Administrative Procedures Act (enacted in 1946) and the role of the public in the regulations process.

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

There’s been a lot of discussions in the current administration to streamline government.  Part of that includes shuttering departments, including the Department of Education.  Did you know for the vast majority of American history, the Department of Education didn’t exist and was created in 1979?  To walk us through the process of shutting down a department and the reasons for it, we are happy to welcome Neal McCluskey, director of Cato's Center for Educational Freedom.  Neal has worked on education reform for over two decades and will share his...