Founding Principles
Underselling Originalism
Constitutional originalists frequently understate the case for constitutional originalism. Professor John McGinnis is a prominent and persuasive exponent of originalism. However, in his posting, The Empire Strikes Back Against Originalism, which Michael...
Want to Understand the Constitution? Don’t Ask a Lawyer!
Most Americans say the Constitution is important. Most Americans say it’s crucial for the government to stay within its constitutional bounds. But what exactly are the constitutional limits on federal power? How do we know? Well, whatever you do, don’t ask a lawyer....
The Mayflower Compact and “consent of the governed” are now 400 years old
The year 2020 is the four hundredth anniversary of the Mayflower Compact. The Compact, signed by forty-one Pilgrim Fathers in 1620, was the first in a series of documents memorializing deliberate self-government in America. Self-government is at the heart of the...
Freedom and Prosperity: The Importance of Sound Money
Sound money is a key to a free and prosperous society. That principle was clearly reflected in the monetary system that the Constitution established when it called the federal government into existence. Our ancestors didn’t trust government officials with power. They...