Americans nationwide are talking about an invasion. What is an “invasion” anyway? You may not have the correct answer if your definition comes from a politician, the press, or a professor. When dealing with words in the Constitution, like “invasion,” we cannot automatically ascribe today’s meanings (or feelings) to the same word as it was […]
Your Questions About a Convention of States
This is an article I wrote last year that may help clarify your questions about a Convention of States. Let’s explore this topic with the help of Article V and Constitutional Study author Paul Engel’s writings. The Accurate Term For a Convention of States First, the most accurate term for a Convention of States is […]
Three Branches of Government and Why It Matters
How did our Founders arrive at the concept of three branches of government, and why does it matter? The Concept of Three Branches of Government Goes Way Back Have you ever heard of Polybius, the ancient Greek historian? Me neither, until today. He found the three popular forms of governance in his day to have […]
The Fourteenth Amendment In the News
Let’s brush up on the Fourteenth Amendment, which is once again in the news. Indeed, it is the Christmas holiday season. So, we will look at this with the aim to be informed citizens. There is no politics, just education outside the realm of public opinion. The Question Can a state disqualify a presidential candidate […]
US Constitution: Does It Ever Mention God?
One of our commenters last week asserted that “God is never mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.” Our regular participants here at Common Sense Civics and Citizenship know that the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution comprise our Founding American Documents. So, rather than the filtered, watered-down opinions of “the politician, press, or professor,” let’s […]
Founding Principles: The Bill of Rights
(We now add to our study, The Bill of Rights, the fifth (and final) in our series of liberty-building blocks based on America’s Founding Principles.) Do you know what rights The Bill of Rights guarantees to you as a U.S citizen? Conduct an impromptu survey, and you will find that many Americans do not know […]
The Bill of Rights Explained
(We now add to our study, The Bill of Rights, the fifth (and final) in our series of liberty-building blocks based on America’s Founding Principles.) Do you know what rights The Bill of Rights guarantees to you as a U.S citizen? Conduct an impromptu survey, and you will find that many Americans do not know […]
Constitution Day, September 17
In honor of Constitution Day, September 17, join me as we revisit a post from 2018 where we consider the Constitution’s original intent and its relevance to today. She is Alison LaCroix, a Professor of Law and an associate member of the Department of History at the University of Chicago. (1) She quotes a colleague […]
The Fourteenth Amendment
I’m sure you’ve heard that the Fourteenth Amendment is in the news. Let’s revisit our Constitution to ensure We the People can interpret the story correctly, not letting emotional media reports guide us. Amendment XIV- One of the Post-Civil War Amendments Amendments Thirteen through Fifteen are called the post-Civil War Amendments or Slave Amendments. Amendment […]
What Is A Living Constitution?
Have you ever heard of “a living constitution?” This is a philosophy based on a “revolving door” definition of truth. Truth As Defined by Our Founders When our Founders wrote the US Constitution, “truth” was defined as absolute and unchanging. For example, you’ve often heard me mention “The Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” from […]
Could We Lose One Amendment In Our Bill of Rights?
What if a political party or a group of representatives carefully crafts a proposed amendment that circumvents an amendment in our Bill of Rights? This is a question from one of our participants. It’s a point that we ought to explore. Our participant points out that today we see a complete disregard for our U.S. […]
Convention of States Question
Recently, one of our participants commented on a Convention of States regarding term limits and the control and rules of said Convention. Let’s explore this topic with the help of Article V and Constitutional Study author Paul Engel’s writings. The Accurate Term For a Convention of States First, the most accurate term for a Convention […]
Why do we have the 25th Amendment?
Have you heard rumblings about the 25th Amendment this past week? I sure have, and from different sources, too. In order to be “in the know,” let’s do a quick review of this section of the Constitution. You may find one or more of the sections to be of great interest. The Twenty-fifth Amendment concerns […]
The Military and EVs
What about the military getting a fleet of Electrical Vehicles (EVs) trucks? What are they thinking? And what does the Constitution say about national defense? Let’s take a moment to think about this. Consider the Mission Logistics It is unlikely that soldiers can get to their destination without stopping to charge their EVs. Where will […]
Who Can the President Pardon?
Who can a U.S. President pardon? Do you have this question, which is circulating among Americans? Let’s go to the Constitution for the answer. Be sure to read what powers the President has regarding pardons and reprieves. Article II, section 2, Clause 1 “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy […]
