by Rob Natelson The U.S. Constitution authorizes a “convention for proposing amendments” to offer amendments for ratification (or rejection) by the states. The mechanism has never been used (all amendments have come from Congress), and many people have been curious about how it is supposed to work. But that’s because they are unaware of the…

Vanity Fair’s sophisticated approach to rescuing a drowning man is this: Lecture him about how we all need plenty of water.

In the midst of the current budget battle, there are a lot of folks—right and left—who assume that defense spending is a luxury that America just can’t afford at the moment. This a view far removed from James Madison’s conviction that “security against foreign danger is…an avowed and essential object of the American Union.” America’s spending priorities are out of whack. Congress’s shortsighted intransigence on the budget will likely mean cutting back the number of delivery days for the U.S. postal service and indiscriminately slashing the defense budget (two items … More

This weekend America will celebrate Constitution Day, created to honor the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention. Earlier this week, former Attorney General Ed Meese reflected on the importance ordinary citizens can play in preserving our Constitution: The Constitution of the United States of America has endured over two centuries. It remains the object of reverence for nearly all Americans and an object of admiration by peoples around the world. Unfortunately, the assault by 20th century liberal theorists and activist judges has seriously undermined … More

On September 17, 1787, delegates from each state signed the Constitution. At 224 years old, the Constitution is now the longest lasting, most imitated national constitution in the world. It unified the country during a time of tremendous instability by providing a stable national government over the 13 separate states. Hearkening back to the first principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution creates the processes through which we consider and evaluate the policy questions of today. Therefore, every September 17th we celebrate this fundamental document—our United States Constitution. And … More

In 2010, North Carolina public school officials proposed changing the high school U.S. History course curriculum to cover events only from 1877 forward. Forget George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the Constitution, and the Civil War—nothing meaningful happened in America before 1877. But, what a difference a year makes. Thanks to the Founding Principles Act, North Carolina high school students will continue to learn not only the key people and documents in American history prior to 1877 but also the philosophical underpinnings of America. Signed it into law on June 23, … More

For several days in London, hoodlums have been razing cars, breaking windows, robbing stores, and threatening the safety of passers-by. These riots are on a scale unseen in modern England. The itinerant, often hooded lawbreakers have made good use of social media in efforts to evade police and strike in poorly policed neighborhoods. As street violence elsewhere in Europe has become more frequent in the midst of economic crises, it is crucial to properly understand the nature of the riots. Unfortunately, voices on the left have already seized the opportunity … More

Regardless of their disagreements at the founding of our nation, even a perfunctory study of the participants in the historical events briefly outlined in this essay would unquestionably reveal that none of these men, from the fiercest federalist to the most ardent anti-federalist, could have anticipated the size and scope of the power wielded by the national government they once debated.

An Open Letter to Speaker John Boehner From Judge Andrew P. Napolitano

It is a singular fact that the most significant single piece of evidence that the Framers excluded the judiciary from policymaking—rejection of their participation in a Council of Revision of legislation—went unnoticed by bench and bar until it was called to their attention by a political scientist