Author: 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.
323 – Reining in Washington, D.C.
Regardless of the problem du jour, I’m frequently asked what We the People can do. Everyone seems to think all the answers are in Washington, D.C. But a look at the Constitution and some Supreme Court opinions will show that the answer to an out of control federal government is a lot closer to home.
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A Quick Look at the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
A lot has been said about the anticipated release of the Supreme Court’s opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case. The leak of a draft of the opinion set off a firestorm, both figuratively and literally, around the nation. With the release of the final opinion, we see a tectonic move in American…
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322 – Money, Speech, and Federal Overreach
Have you ever considered how money relates to speech? The federal government has. One of the issues with federal election law is the limitation on the use of money for a candidate to get their message out. What does the case FEC v Cruz have to do with free speech? More important, what does it show about the state of elections in America?
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321 – When Preparation Turns Into Tyranny
There’s a saying in many training communities, “The body will not go where the mind has not already been.” Another one you may have heard is the Five “P’s”, Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. The idea is simple; if you do not prepare beforehand for a given situation, you will not be prepared when it happens. But what happens when government preparations move from proper to totalitarian?
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320 – Scott & Korematsu – Two Cases That Show the Corruption of the Court
There are certain Supreme Court cases that are infamous, either for their import or their error. Miranda, Roe v. Wade, and Obergefell are just a few. Two of these cases are known simply as Dred Scot and Koramatsu. These cases are not only examples of when the courts get things wrong, but of our nature to treat others as less than human.
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319 – At What Age Do You Have Rights?
As children, we receive protection of our rights through our parents. But have you ever considered at what age you receive protections for your rights directly? Is it the same for all rights, or are there different ages when you receive protections for different rights?
The case Jones v. Bonta asked the question, when do you receive protections for your right to keep and bear arms. The answer out of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals may surprise you.