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Studying the Constitution is not as hard as you may think

Studying the Constitution is not as hard as you may think. Over the years we have delegated the privilege of reading and understanding the Constitution to a high-priesthood of nine people in black robes, the Supreme Court of the United States and their acolytes, the judges, lawyers and clerks of our legal system. But this is not how the Constitution was written.

We sometimes act like reading the Constitution is some grand accomplishment. The U.S. Constitution is only approximately 8,000 words long including all the amendments and the Declaration of Independence only adds about 1,500 more. Compared to the King James Bible (approx. 780,000 words), War and Peace (approx. 585,000 words), or the first Harry Potter book (approx. 76,000 words), it’s just not that large. In fact, the average reader should be able to get through the Constitution in about 20 minutes and the Declaration in about another 5. I try to read it through 2-3 times a year. It doesn’t take much time and it reminds me how things are supposed to be.

Some say only lawyers can understand it. In one word, HOGWASH! The Constitution was sent around the country for everyone to read before the states voted to ratify it. Essays were published in newspapers for and against provisions in the Constitution. We call these essays the Federalist Papers (for) and the Anti-Federalist Papers (against). They were all written so that the average 18th century farmer could read and understand them.

Sure, some of the words are unfamiliar to us and some of the clauses may require us to think about them to understand. But are 21st century Americans not as literate as an 18th century farmer? Or have we just been taught that it’s too difficult, so just leave it to the professionals? Our Founding Fathers didn’t think so. John Jay, a Founding Father and first Chief Justice of the supreme Court of the United States said, “Every member of the State ought diligently to read and to study the constitution of his country…” Not “every lawyer and politician should read it”, (though I wish they would), and not “only the trained should read it”, but everyone should read it. This is our heritage, created to guarantee our freedom! Don’t you think it’s worth 30 minutes to read? Don’t you think it’s worth some time to study with others?

How do I get started?

You’ve already taken the first step by coming to The Constitution Study.  Here everyone from the curious to the expert can get together to read a study the Constitution. Join our growing band of self-taught patriots. Sign up today and you’ll be notified as new content is available; meanwhile consider supporting our work on Patreon.  Together we will study the Constitution of YOUR country and help protect the freedoms of your children and your children’s children.

I hope you’ll join us at The Constitution Study. Together we can read and study how our federal government was designed to work, learn how to apply the Constitution to our lives today, and discover how through working together we can make a change in our nation and our lives.

Paul Engel

Like many of you, I am a product of the public schools. Like many of you I thought the Constitution was for lawyers and judges. One day I read the Constitution, and was surprised to find I didn't need a law degree to understand it. Then I read the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and even the Anti-Federalist Papers. As I learned more and more about our founding fathers and documents I saw how little we know about how our country was designed to work and how many people just didn't care. I started The Constitution Study to help those who also want read and study our Constitution.