How well do you understand our Constitution?

by | Mar 17, 2014 | GOP Commentary

from Hillsdale College

Posted 3/17/2014

The Constitution Minute is a series of brief, informative radio messages designed to improve your understanding of the meaning and history of the U.S. Constitution. Each Minute features Dr. Larry Arnn or another Hillsdale faculty member—the same ones who teach our students on campus—explaining one key constitutional principle.

All of the Constitution Minutes are available through the links below. If you are interested in learning more about the Constitution,  sign up for a free online course from Hillsdale College. Register now for this free, ten-week, online course.

List of Minutes:

  1. How did America’s Founders understand the words, “All men are created equal”?
  2. What is the difference between natural rights and entitlements?
  3. Did America’s Founders intend to create a separation between church and state?
  4. Why does the Constitution limit government?
  5. President Larry Arnn discusses bureaucratic despotism.
  6. The continuing relevance of the Constitution.
  7. What is the Relationship of the Three Branches of Government Under the Constitution?
  8. Why is Federalism crucial to free government?
  9. President Larry Arnn discusses the presidential oath of office.

With the Stroke of a Pen: How Obama abuses executive power to make the law of the land

by | Oct 2, 2013 | GOP Commentary

Posted 10/2/2013

The Washington Examiner is running a series of stories entitled “With the Stroke of a Pen: How Obama abuses executive power to make the law of the land.”

As a backgrounder, here is what the article series is about:

From the Post:

“On Nov. 16, 2010, just days after voters gave Republicans control of the House of Representatives, the progressive think tank Center for American Progress published a report titled “The Power of the President.”

Obama-Biden Transition Project Chairman John Podesta introduced the report, writing that “in the aftermath of this month’s midterm congressional elections, pundits and politicians across the ideological spectrum are focusing on how difficult it will be for President Barack Obama to advance his policy priorities through Congress.”

“Some debate whether the administration should tack to the center and compromise with the new House leadership,” Podesta continued.

“As a former White House chief of staff, I believe those to be the wrong preoccupations. President Obama’s ability to govern the country as chief executive presents an opportunity to demonstrate strength, resolve, and a capacity to get things done,” Podesta said.

Not only did Obama almost immediately embrace the report’s call for maximizing executive power to achieve progressive ends without Congress, it even branded the effort “We Can’t Wait,” thus advertising the fact that Obama had abandoned all pretense of following the U.S. Constitution’s carefully drawn separation-of-powers doctrine.

In this Washington Examiner series, Senior Writer Conn Carroll documents the many times Obama has flagrantly abused executive authority to advance his liberal agenda without congressional approval.

The top 10 instances will be examined over the next two weeks, and more will come later.

You can read them here: www.washingtonexaminer.com/analysis/stroke-of-a-pen