What Happened to a Constitution for “Rational and Social Beings”? In Noah Webster’s famous dictionary published in 1828, he defined “constitution” as “A system of fundamental principles for the government of rational and social beings.” You cannot find a modern dictionary which even vaguely has the concept of rational and social beings linked to [...]
Why Study the Constitution? The American form of government has been the most successful among nations for the last 230 years. The Constitution has been a beacon to people around the world seeking freedom in their own countries. Yet, how many of us today are truly familiar with the document and principles that we [...]
How Words Can Cause Confusion and Inaction Words which people read and use which they have not clearly and accurately defined can cause confusion and inaction. I Can Prove This I can easily prove this to you with this simple exercise: Please take out a piece of scratch paper and a pen or pencil. Draw [...]
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness The phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is at the heart of the Declaration of Independence. These words express the hopes of all people. The author of the Declaration of Independence recognized that these rights, so much a part of the basic nature of people, cannot be [...]
What Is Constitution Day? In 2004, the U.S. Congress passed a law designating September 17 as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day” to commemorate the signing of our Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. This law instructed: each federal agency to provide educational materials concerning the Constitution to all employees every September 17, and [...]
Constitution Quotes from Thomas Jefferson (from Monticello.org) Extract from Thomas Jefferson to William Johnson Monticello, June 12, 1823. on every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, & instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, [...]
