Beyond the Text: Understanding the Constitution’s Original Meaning
How do we learn the original meaning of the Constitution? A lot of people will say, “Just read it.” That’s an essential first step, but it’s not quite as simple as that. The Constitution is a legal document rooted in 18th-century law. It is filled with legal...
Understanding the Constitution: Originalism’s Long History and Tradition
Several Supreme Court justices—most consistently Clarence Thomas—describe themselves as “originalists.” In a prior Epoch Times column, I answered the question, “What is Originalism? I wrote: “Although originalists disagree among themselves over some details, they...
One reason judges make mistakes about the Constitution
Many Americans complain when the courts allow Congress and federal officials to violate the Constitution. Why does that happen? There are several reasons, but here’s one that few people appreciate: Often when judges are called on to interpret a word or phrase in the...