How Two Vague Words Were Used to Gut the Entire Constitution
“…do we live under a limited or an unlimited government?” To you, that question probably sounds naive because the answer feels obvious. But in 1792, Thomas Jefferson saw it as the moment of truth. Alexander Hamilton had just laid out his vision for the “general...
The Ninth Amendment: Partner to the Tenth in Limiting Federal Power
The Ninth Amendment. Most people don’t know what it says or means. Others just ignore it. Those who don’t, usually get it completely wrong. The Ninth isn’t a grant of additional federal power. It’s a partner to the Tenth Amendment and a firewall for...
James Madison’s Speech that Set the Stage for the Bill of Rights
On June 8 1789, the “Father of the Constitution” James Madison rose on the floor of Congress to propose a series of significant amendments, setting the stage for what would become the Bill of Rights. FROM SKEPTIC TO ADVOCATE The occasion marked somewhat of a strong...