Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Ever heard the term “alphabet agencies?”  It often refers to various federal government agencies that have usually 3-letter names.  Many of these are in the national security community: DHS, CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, ODNI and many more.  What exactly do you know about the various agencies and their mission?  When were they formed and for what purpose?  How did September 11th change the scope of their missions?  We have a lot to unpack in this week’s chat.   Joining our all-star student panel, we welcome Dustin Carmack, Research Fellow, Cybersecurity,...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

What exactly do you know about the debt and debt ceiling?  What are they?  Think of the debt ceiling like the credit limit on a credit card and the debt is the total sum of all that spending. In this analogy, wisdom would say spending should be kept to a minimum and the balance paid off in full each month.  Unfortunately, this is not how our federal government operates and we routinely rack up debt future generations will have to pay off without their approval.  We have been accruing national debt from the moment our country was born.  In addition to our student panel,...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

What would the Founders think of social media’s unlimited and instant communication across the country and around the world?  Would they try to regulate it?  From what authority could the Founders and subsequent government actually regulate social media?  What are the main differences between social media entities and TV or radio which use public spectrum to broadcast?  These are questions worth pondering as we discuss the government’s role in social media in today’s chat.  We are honored to welcome our guest, Carl Szabo, Vice President and General Counsel of...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

We share a 1,951 mile border with Mexico and that border sees millions upon millions of border crossings involving people and vehicles.  Seemingly on a daily basis in the news cycle, we hear news related to the border.  In this week’s chat, we are honored to have two guests who have seen events unfold along the border in person: Former Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and Chairman of Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Clint Hickman.  In this wide-ranging chat, we discuss numerous topics ranging from legal and illegal immigration, ongoing...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

It has a population more than 4 times that of the United States.  It produces goods and services we use in our daily lives. In our modern economy with the free-flow of information and high levels of technology, one must wonder the impact the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has on the global economy.  Here’s an interesting point to ponder as we get into today’s discussion: China invents very little.  That innovation comes from abroad.  Yet the CCP has a near universal hold on the exchange of information within their country.  How does the CCP manage to maintain this...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

His father died when was 11.  His formal education ended at 14.  By 17, he had mastered trigonometry and geometry and worked as a surveyor in the American West.  Beyond that, he was a solider, leader and our country’s first President.  Yet, among all of his extraordinary accomplishments, Washington showed our new country what leadership was and is.  After victory in the revolutionary war, he resigned his military commission, rather than attempting to seize power. He led the Constitutional Convention by barely speaking a word. And at the end...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Political parties.  President George Washington warned against the rise of political parties (then, the Democratic-Republicans and the Federalists), going so far to say they could be used “to subvert the Power of the People” in his Farewell Address in 1796.  In our current Congress, we have seen play out what Washington was warning us against.  In this episode we are discussing bipartisanship and taking a look at just how feasible bipartisanship is in today’s political climate.  We are thrilled to welcome two freshman members of congress: Rep....

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

You won’t find Congress’ oversight and investigations power in the U.S. Constitution, but it’s one of the most important tools Congress has to do its job! Through Congressional Committees and their oversight and investigations work, Congress serves as a watchdog over the executive branch and researches national issues in need of legislative solutions. Today we discuss congressional oversight and investigation history going back to the first oversight hearing in 1791 over the Battle of the Wabash, to today, including some of the most high profile and contentious hearings in our...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Members of Congress legislate on a wide range of issues: education, energy, agricultural, space, finance, taxation, national defense, immigration, to name a few.  Can we reasonably expect members to be well-versed in the particulars in each of these issues as they pertain to upcoming or pending legislation?  Not likely.  Enter the committee systems.  Over 200 congressional committees and sub-committees exist to address these issues.  We are discussing the history of these committees and how they are used in today’s political climate.  We are honored to have...

Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

There are 535 members of Congress: 435 in the House and 100 in the Senate.  Each member has their own priorities and agenda. With so many differing priorities, how does anything get done?  Enter party leadership.  Regular Constituting America viewers know the roles of a U. S. Representative and Senator, but how much do you know about the congressional leadership?  There’s a Speaker of the House, House and Senate Majority and Minority leaders, Majority and Minority Whips.  There’s a President Pro Tempore in the Senate.  What exactly do they do and how are they...