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20 hours ago

The Founders’ Values: A Surprising LegacyWhat the Founders believed may surprise you. Contrary to common teachings today, very few deists existed in the 18th century. Therefore, deists were outnumbered. Judeo-Christian Morality: A Shared FoundationThe Framers had a common belief in Judeo-Christian moral values (not religious doctrine) that are still widely held today. You know the ones- don’t cheat, steal, lie, covet, murder, have no idols, treat others the way you want to be treated, etc., no matter if you are a person of faith or even have no faith. Who wants to live by a code of immorality in their town, state, or nation? That’s what our Founders thought, too. They believed that we are created beings, and to the Creator, we must give an account. They saw what placing belief in human power apart from the Creator did to governments and power in general.The First Amendment: Protecting Diverse BeliefsThe First Amendment, written in 1789, did not preclude our Founding Fathers from letting moral values guide them. The fact is, they wrote the First Amendment, which precludes WHO from establishing a national religion. That’s right, Congress. It is Congress “who shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….”If you are a person who fears or even hates religion, changing our First Amendment to allay your preference or fears won’t help. Congress cannot establish any religion, including atheism, secularism, satanism, etc. While you may argue that these are only philosophical worldviews, not religions, there is no scholarly agreement on what precisely a religion is. In my opinion, we can't eliminate popular philosophical worldviews from the religious realm.Embracing Philosophical Freedom in AmericaAmerica was founded on Judeo-Christian moral values. If you move to an atheist country, you will live by atheist values. Likewise, secularism, secular values. In our country, you can live by whatever philosophical worldview you choose, but you must allow others to do the same under the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment safeguards the right to practice faith and reflects the enduring moral principles that shaped our nation. That is the gift we have in the First Amendment. This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸Note: Avoid naming prominent people or political parties in your comments. No additional links or pictures. Thank you!🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

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6 days ago

Framers’ Wisdom: Crafting America’s Constitution[Commenting Guidelines: Avoid naming prominent people or political parties. No additional links or pictures. Thank you 🇺🇸]How did our Constitution come into being? Did our Framers mosey into an English-style Pub, order an adult beverage, and begin kicking some ideas around the table? Who inspired them? Today, social media has key influencers. Although our Framers of the Constitution did not have the internet, they had "influencers" whose ideas stood the test of time. These ideas eventually became a part of our Supreme Law of the Land (see Article VI). Let's take a look.The Framers' Influencers The Framers were widely read, studious citizens. They leaned upon historical and contemporary ideas about government -ideas that, when applied, worked. For example, take Baron Charles Montesquieu from France, who reasoned that God is the author of all moral and physical laws, but humans are prone to go their own way, do their own thing, and depart from God's laws. He proposed that the government's job was to restrain the impulse to give a single leader unlimited power to avoid despotism. The government's duty is to maintain order, not promote selfishness or lawlessness. To do otherwise leads to tyranny with a leader who exercises absolute power over the citizenry.Montesquieu's works influenced our Framers to divide power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This avoids merging all the power in one individual or a single department. Ultimately, the separation of powers leads to freedom.John Locke was another influencer on American political theory. He reasoned that government was a contract with the people. He believed in natural rights—that all law ultimately must agree with the Creator's law. Locke proposed that our rights to life, liberty, and property belong to us and are not gifted to us by our government.William Blackstone wrote the "Commentaries on the Laws of England." He contributed to the idea of judicial restraint. In other words, judges do not make law. Judges are to discover and apply the law from the laws of nature and nature's God, laws of the land, and precedent. Judges are not to follow their own biases or preferences.Additional InfluencesThe Framers had additional influences from the Bible, international philosophers, and non-Christian sources. In other words, they were well-rounded in their sources, forming our Constitution's basis. Besides, they had the Articles of Confederation in operation. Still, the Articles were too loose, and the opportunity for chaos was too great with the possibility of future tyranny if they didn't add more structure. The Framers' Main ContributionSo, the Constitution was written. Our Framers shaped a document and laid the foundation for a resilient Constitutional Republic that continues to inspire generations. Understanding their influencers helps us appreciate the enduring principles of our Constitution and the importance of our need for civic engagement today.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship 🇺🇸#civics #civicengagement #civicseducation ... See MoreSee Less

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Common Sense Civics and Citizenship

2 weeks ago

Teaching Liberty, Rebuilding CivilityAt Common Sense Civics & Citizenship, Candace teaches the timeless notions of liberty that inspired the American system of government — and we’re bringing those ideas to life on Instagram.Join us @cscivicsandcitizenshipfor clear, nonpartisan civic education that empowers informed citizens of future generations and thoughtful conversation.#CivicsAndCitizenship #AmericanFounding #LibertyMatters #CivilDiscourse #CivicLiteracy ... See MoreSee Less

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Common Sense Civics and Citizenship

2 weeks ago

When Commenting: Avoid using prominent names of people or political parties.This helps us think and write using principles that educate rather than personalities or political parties that divide. No additional links or pictures. Thank you 🇺🇸Understanding the Rights of Undocumented ImmigrantsDo criminal illegal aliens have rights in our country? One of our participants asked, "Why do so many believe constitutional rights apply to anyone setting foot on U.S. soil rather than, specifically, U.S. citizens?" I've been thinking a lot about this question from a Civics and Constitution teacher's perspective. Now, I am not a lawyer. Most of us aren't. We are citizens looking for the law, the facts, and the truth. We want the complex to be understandable. In this case, it's not that simple. Here's why:Constitutional Protections: Rights for All?The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly state that illegal aliens have the same rights as American citizens. However, certain rights, like equal protection under the law and due process, are extended to all people "under the jurisdiction of the United States," regardless of the individual's immigration status. There are court cases that confirm this. The one brought to my attention was Plyler v. Doe (1982). The Supreme Court concluded that states cannot deny free public education to children based on their immigration status. This is important: The SCOTUS ruling said the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause applies to all persons.I have a question: What does "to be under the jurisdiction of the United States" mean? I've been taught that this phrase means you have legal status in the USA. Do illegal immigrants (or the U.S. law and policy legal term "illegal aliens") have legal status? If so, why? Is it because the previous administration let foreign nationals cross our borders en masse with its approval and a court date that would be impossible to enforce?What about Due Process? Individuals have the right to fair legal proceedings. This means that even if someone faces deportation, they are entitled to a hearing and the opportunity to present their case. However, a good question is: What part of due process was used when up to 5,000 people per day were admitted into our country, bypassing the usual channels for legal entry (like passports)? And, what about the small towns, like Springfield, Ohio, that had 20,000 new citizens “overnight” without giving the residents due process? Where was their right to fair legal proceedings? Where were congressional leaders at that time?The Role of the Executive BranchCongress never officially approved an open borders policy between 2020-2024. How are open borders legal? Article II, sec.1 says, "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America." Article III, sec. 3 requires the President to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." According to the Constitution, this federal power implies that the Executive Branch can enforce and INTERPRET immigration laws. (Note: It does not give the Executive Branch the power to make laws). So, if the Chief Executive can open borders constitutionally, is it not also any future Chief Executive's power to close or limit border crossings? And, is it not reasonable to deport those who came in under a loose interpretation of those laws not congressionally approved, especially if it can be proven that it is part of a planned "invasion" with far-reaching implications for Americans in the future? (See Article IV, sec.4While Congress did not formally approve of an "open borders" policy, we can deduce that the Executive Branch has the authority to implement policies that can lead to increased immigration. These policies are subject to legal and political debate.Therefore, any administration's actions can be challenged in court, and various states and organizations are doing so. These immigration/deportation actions and policies are complex. How they resolve may depend on court interpretations of existing laws, precedent, and the specific circumstances surrounding immigration enforcement.The Path Forward: Founders' Intent and Future ImplicationsLooking at it from a common-sense perspective, I continue my struggle with this issue facing our country today. However, returning to the Federalist Papers and the original intent of our Founders and Framers would go a long way toward resolving this issue. What would they say in our current circumstances? Answering this question is paramount.The future of our country depends on it.This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸Photo by Gene Gallin on Unsplash ... See MoreSee Less

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Recapture our American civil discourse by reviving the study of civics and gaining practical knowledge for any stage of life. Candace Donnelly invites you to spend a few minutes with other Americans l...

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