Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

Compared to modern record keeping, not all of the details surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence are known.   Case in point, although we know the date, we do not know the specific time of day when it passed and was signed.   Other questions remain such as who offered what changes and were they incorporated in Jefferson's final draft?   But what we do know is the long-lasting im...

Washington.   Adams.   Jefferson.   Madison.   Hamilton.   There are certain Founding Fathers with whom are all very familiar.   But there are also those who are less well-known but not less important.   John Witherspoon is one such historical figure.   Our guest today is Jeffry Morrison, Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University and Director of Academics at the federal gover...

A rising concern over the last few years has been the purchase of American land by companies and organizations linked to the Chinese government.   Similarly, the trade-focused relationship between the United States and China has been brought into focus as an examination of the cost-benefit analysis. Is this a legitimate rising concern?   What can be done to secure our land and alleviate those conc...

A rising concern over the last few years has been the purchase of American land by companies and organizations linked to the Chinese government.   Similarly, the trade-focused relationship between the United States and China has been brought into focus as an examination of the cost-benefit analysis. Is this a legitimate rising concern?   What can be done to secure our land and alleviate those conc...

At over 200 years old, the Monroe Doctrine is one of the longest lasting attempts to craft foreign policy for our country.   Declared in 1823 by President James Monroe, it laid the framework for the relationship between the United States and the Western Hemisphere.   But why was it so important?   What details did it address?   How is it relevant today and is it actually enforced?   To discuss thi...

It's one of the most famous presidential speeches in United States history.   It's also likely the shortest but its length in no way limits its massive historic significance.   President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863.   As we celebrate this speech's 162nd anniversary, we are delighted to have Dr. Jon Schaff, Professor of Government/Director of the Center for...

Most of us are familiar with the heroes of the American Revolution like George Washington, John Paul Jones and Alexander Hamilton.   But there are so many brave war heroes who risked everything to win our country's independence.   Today, we celebrate those lesser-known, but by no means less-important, historical figures.   Our guest is a long-time friend to Constituting America.   Tom Hand will di...

Did you know the post office is older than our country?   The history of the United States Post Office is fascinating and is an excellent reminder of the need for fast communication across the nation before the modern era of instant global communication.   As we celebrate the birthday of the post office, who better to talk us through the history of the post office, including which Founding Father...

They each brought a different skill set to the table.   Some were born to lead armies.   Some were born to pen the spirit of the new country on paper.   Some were born to build foreign relations.   Their skill sets were all needed and their lasting legacy defines American Exceptionalism.   Today we are discussing the virtues of the Founding Fathers and how their virtues culminated in the American...

The Few. The Proud.   The Marines.   Today, we are discussing this legendary fighting force as we celebrate the United States Marines' 250th birthday. For 250 years, the Marines have shown up to protect our freedom, and helped establish the Untied States as the world's superpower. To discuss the evolution of this branch of our military, we are honored to welcome back Dr. James Robbins, Dean of Aca...

There's one for George Washington.  Thomas Jefferson has one.  Not to overlook the President who served between those two, our country has a concerted to build a memorial to John Adams and his family on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. To discuss this process, the hurdles involved and why President Adams-and his family-is deserving of such an honor, we are delighted to welcome Jackie Gingrich...

Our country owes a lot of gratitude to the generation of men and women who were the Founders of this country and wrote its founding documents.   Too often we forget   they were walking in uncharted territory: they were the first group of colonies to successfully break away from an empire, we were the first post-colonial country and the first nation founded on moral principles.   What they accompli...

Operating 11 carrier strike groups and numerous cruisers, destroyers, frigates and submarines among other ships and vessels, the United States Navy is the world's most powerful Navy.   Composed of roughly 330,00 active personnel, our Navy is ready to protect American interests across the globe.   This month, our country will celebrate the 250th birthday of this incredible fighting force.   To "cap...

Why has it become harder for differing views to have a conversation about those views that does not devolve into name calling, personal attacks and yelling? We have all witnessed it in our circle of family and friends.   We should not have to live like this especially when that disagreement turns violent and lives are lost.   At Constituting America, we have promoted the idea of civil discourse fo...

Today we wrap up our discussion on checks and balances with special guest Dr. Susan McWilliams.   In this concluding episode, Dr. McWilliams takes us back to our founding and explains why the founders created a system of separation of powers and checks and balances, dividing power between the branches, with mechanisms for the branches to check each other. The Founders recognized the need and virtu...

What makes a Supreme Court case a landmark case?   That's going to mean something different to each of us.   Generally those cases that plow new ground can be viewed as landmark.   The Supreme Court rules on a wide range of cases that affect the way our government functions.   To discuss a number of these cases, our special guest today is Thomas Jipping, Senior Legal Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center...

Marbury v. Madison is a landmark Supreme Court case that we all learned in U.S. History class established the principle of judicial review. Our guest today, Dr. Josh Dunn, takes a slightly different view. Join us as we continue our series on the Constitution's checks and balances and dive deeper into Marbury v. Madison and the concept of judicial review. Dr. Dunn is Professor and Executive Directo...

The United States military, while not the largest by number of enlisted members, is unmatched with its number of ships, planes and tanks.   The Founders divided control of the military in quite a genius way.   Some power rests with Congress and some rests with the President as the military's commander-in-chief.   Why did the Founders want military power to rest with civilians?   How does this prot...

Any amendment to the U.S. Constitution has two paths to be proposed to the states for ratification. One is the well-known path: a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress. Article V of the Constitution also dictates how potential amendments can be proposed to the states for ratification by a Convention of States.   Could a Convention of States actually happen? This week's guest says it can and will! To...

Here's an interesting point to ponder: we think of the veto power as a presidential power but the power is found in Article I, Section VII, which we know creates Congress.   This means the Founders intended the veto process to be every bit a part of the legislative process as well as an executive power.   Why did they do this?   What "grievance" found in the Declaration of Independence was the vet...

The United States has the oldest written constitution still in use than any other country.   This stability is due in part to mechanisms buil in that protect our freedom. One such mechanism is the amendment process.   What are the two paths for an amendment to come to pass and why did the Founding Fathers include this process when drafting the Constitution?   To answer these questions, we are plea...

In Federalist 30, published in 1787, Alexander Hamilton explains the separation of powers as the executive branch having the power of the sword and the legislative branch having the power of the purse.   A functioning government needs to be able to enforce law and wage but also has to be able to raise and spend appropriate money.   This creates an incredibly effective check on both of those branch...

Article II, Section II of the United States Constitution grants numerous powers to the presidency. However, Clause II dictates the President must have the advice and consent of the United States Senate in order to exercise these powers.   What does this mean and what is the nomination and confirmation process between these two branches of government?   When specifically must the President consult...

The United States Constitution is efficient in its division of power between the three branches of government.   Articles I, II and III create the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches, respectively.   Within Article II, Section II gives the President certain powers to function as our chief diplomat with other countries.   Just what are these powers?   What is the check on this power from t...

The Founders knew what they did not want our new government to be.   Thomas Jefferson so eloquently made the argument to break away from one form while laying the groundwork for our next form of government.   Then James Madison completed that groundwork in the text of Constitution.   What do we mean by this?   The Declaration spoke of unalienable rights, and declared the purpose of government inst...