Open Letter to John Bolton on Nullification
Dear Mr. Bolton, When I was young, I assumed people who went to prestigious law schools learned a great deal about the Constitution and U.S. history. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand this isn’t generally the case. In fact, lawyers trained...
The Preamble to the Constitution: What It Tells Us and What It Doesn’t
For many Americans, knowledge of the Constitution begins and ends with the preamble. A lot of people probably even memorized it at some point in school. I suppose you could laud the educational system for at least acknowledging the existence of America’s...
Federal Overreach and American Foreign Policy Go Hand-In-Hand
Apologists for the state often argue that criticism of the federal government must not encroach on national defense and foreign affairs. This is particularly true of Republicans, but Democrats are increasingly arguing in favor of a unitary presidency; especially as...
James Madison did not Reject Nullification
At some point in virtually every debate, an opponent of nullification will claim James Madison is on their side and that he opposed the practice. This despite the very clear meaning of the words in the Virginia Resolutions of 1798. So what gives? Was Madison for...
