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.
485 – One Small Win for Parents’ Rights
Earlier this year I wrote about the oral arguments before the Supreme Court in the case Mahmoud V. Taylor. The case had to do with a parent’s right to opt their children out of content in public school they found objectionable, and the Supreme Court was asked if the plaintiffs were entitled to a preliminary injunction preventing the school from teaching their children objectionable content until the court had decided the case. On June 27, 2025, the court published its decision.
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484 – Gender Wars: Battle of Tennessee
All of western culture is at war. The fundamental point of conflict is whether a person’s “gender” is determined by biology or psychology, reality or wishes. One of the latest battles in this war is the Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti. In this case Mr. Skrmetti, as Attorney General of the State of Tennessee, is defending the state’s law that prohibits the use of so-called “gender-affirming” care for minors. The answer the court came to will surprise some and infuriate others.
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Officer Helsley of the Clarksburg Police Punched A Guy Repeatedly in the Face
Yesterday, during an arrest, Officer Helsley of the Clarksburg, WV police decided to slam an already detained person’s head into a curb and then punch the suspect repeatedly in the face. For some reason, most of the reporting on this situation leaves out the officer’s name. His name is Elijah Helsley, and he’s a police…
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483 – Universal Injunctions Decided
In the “Rock, Paper, Scissors” of our federal government, who wins? Does a federal court always get what it wants, or are there limitations? While hearing cases on the question of “birthright citizenship”, several District Courts claimed the power to rule over the President. I don’t remember seeing that in the Constitution. Now, the Supreme Court has weighed in, deciding in the case Trump v. Casa that lower courts are not all powerful after all.
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482 – Due Process Amendments
There has been a lot of talk about due process lately, but little of it seems to be informed by proof or evidence. Five of the ten amendments in the Bill of Rights are called the “Due Process Amendments”. With a little bit of research, we can not only be sure of what due process is, but how the Constitution protects our rights to it.
481 – Independence Day
Next year with be the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Over the next 365 days I expect to see plenty of opportunities to remember the date. I want to start by remembering the reason why we declared independence in the first place.
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480 – Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services
When is discrimination not discrimination? While the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals would have you think that reverse discrimination is not only legal, but OK. However, discrimination is discrimination, even when it’s used in an attempt to right some past wrong.
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479 – When the FBI Knocks
Imagine being awakened from a sound sleep by a group of armed men bashing in your door. Come to find out, it’s the FBI. Oh yeah, and they have the wrong house. After the trauma, not to mention the damage to your house, at the very least you can sue for a redress of these grievances, right? That is the question before the Supreme Court in the case Martin v. United States.
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