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Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 273 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Captain Kevin Wensing (Ret.) | Sailing Into 250 Years: Honoring America's NavyOperating 11 carrier strike groups and numerous cruisers, destroyers, frigates and submarines among other ships and vessels, the United States Navy is the world's most powerful Navy. Composed of roughly 330,00 active personnel, our Navy is ready to protect American interests across the globe. This month, our country will celebrate the 250th birthday of this incredible fighting force. To "captain" today's discussion, we are honored to welcome one of the Navy's own as our guest. Captain Kevin Wensing (Ret.) spent 26 years in the Navy and has worked with numerous veteran-focused organizations and was the vice president of the USO.
2025-10-0354 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 272 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Joel Del Rosario | Are Civil Civic Conversations Still Possible?Why has it become harder for differing views to have a conversation about those views that does not devolve into name calling, personal attacks and yelling? We have all witnessed it in our circle of family and friends. We should not have to live like this especially when that disagreement turns violent and lives are lost. At Constituting America, we have promoted the idea of civil discourse for years and want to see more of it in the public sphere. But how can we make that happen? To have an open and frank conversation, we are honored to welcome Joel...
2025-09-251h 00Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 271 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Susan McWilliams | What Holds Our Republic Together? A Wrap-Up on Checks & BalancesToday we wrap up our discussion on checks and balances with special guest Dr. Susan McWilliams. In this concluding episode, Dr. McWilliams takes us back to our founding and explains why the founders created a system of separation of powers and checks and balances, dividing power between the branches, with mechanisms for the branches to check each other. The Founders recognized the need and virtue in ambition but also its potential path to tyranny, so they prioritized protecting natural rights in order to keep us free. Join us as Dr. Susan McWilliams walks us through this enlightening discussion! Dr. Mc...
2025-09-2056 min
The E Pluribus Unum ShowEp. #35: Cathy Gillespie - Constituting AmericaIn this episode of E Pluribus Unum, Jennifer talks with Cathy Gillespie, CEO of Constituting America. Cathy has held numerous positions in government and politics over the past 40 years including congressional chief of staff and member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows. Cathy was recently appointed to the United States Semiquincentennial Commission, the commission established by Congress to provide for the observance and commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. To learn more, visit ConstitutingAmerica.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2025-09-1625 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 270 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Thomas Jipping | Landmark Supreme Court Rulings: The Cases That Changed U.S. HistoryWhat makes a Supreme Court case a landmark case? That's going to mean something different to each of us. Generally those cases that plow new ground can be viewed as landmark. The Supreme Court rules on a wide range of cases that affect the way our government functions. To discuss a number of these cases, our special guest today is Thomas Jipping, Senior Legal Fellow, Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation.
2025-09-1355 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 269 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Josh Dunn | Judicial Review: What It Is and Why Marbury v. Madison MattersMarbury v. Madison is a landmark Supreme Court case that we all learned in U.S. History class established the principle of judicial review. Our guest today, Dr. Josh Dunn, takes a slightly different view. Join us as we continue our series on the Constitution's checks and balances and dive deeper into Marbury v. Madison and the concept of judicial review. Dr. Dunn is Professor and Executive Director of the Institute of American Civics at the Baker School of Public Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Tennessee.
2025-08-2955 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 268 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Mackubin T. Owens | The Founders' Blueprint: Checks, Balances, and Civilian Control of the MilitaryThe United States military, while not the largest by number of enlisted members, is unmatched with its number of ships, planes and tanks. The Founders divided control of the military in quite a genius way. Some power rests with Congress and some rests with the President as the military's commander-in-chief. Why did the Founders want military power to rest with civilians? How does this protect natural rights? To discuss the checks and balances in control of the extraordinary power of our military, we are delighted to welcome Mackubin (Mac) T. Owens to our podcast this week. Dr. Owens is a ret...
2025-08-2256 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 267 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Gary Porter | What's a Convention of States? (And Can It Really Happen?)Any amendment to the U.S. Constitution has two paths to be proposed to the states for ratification. One is the well-known path: a 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress. Article V of the Constitution also dictates how potential amendments can be proposed to the states for ratification by a Convention of States. Could a Convention of States actually happen? This week's guest says it can and will! To walk us through this process, we are pleased to welcome Gary Porter, Executive Director of the Constitution Leadership Initiative. Gary recently led the Virginia Delegation in a 2023 Convention of States Sim...
2025-08-1655 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 266 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Alex E. Hindman | The Veto and the ConstitutionHere's an interesting point to ponder: we think of the veto power as a presidential power but the power is found in Article I, Section VII, which we know creates Congress. This means the Founders intended the veto process to be every bit a part of the legislative process as well as an executive power. Why did they do this? What "grievance" found in the Declaration of Independence was the veto and veto override intended to rectify? What is the mechanism and process through which a veto takes place and how can a bill become law even if vetoed by t...
2025-08-0954 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 265 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | William Reddinger | Demystifying the Constitutional Amendment Process and Its Checks and BalancesThe United States has the oldest written constitution still in use than any other country. This stability is due in part to mechanisms buil in that protect our freedom. One such mechanism is the amendment process. What are the two paths for an amendment to come to pass and why did the Founding Fathers include this process when drafting the Constitution? To answer these questions, we are pleased to welcome William Reddinger. Dr. Reddinger is an associate professor at Regent University and Director of the Lincoln Program in America's Founding Principles.
2025-08-0256 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 264 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Jon Schaff | The Power of the Purse: Congress's Constitutional Power to Control Government SpendingIn Federalist 30, published in 1787, Alexander Hamilton explains the separation of powers as the executive branch having the power of the sword and the legislative branch having the power of the purse. A functioning government needs to be able to enforce law and wage but also has to be able to raise and spend appropriate money. This creates an incredibly effective check on both of those branches as one cannot function without the other. To dive further into this special governmental check we are pleased to welcome back last week's guest Dr. Jon Schaff, Professor of Government/Director of the Cen...
2025-07-2558 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 263 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Jon Schaff | From Nomination to Confirmation: The Advice and Consent ProcessArticle II, Section II of the United States Constitution grants numerous powers to the presidency. However, Clause II dictates the President must have the advice and consent of the United States Senate in order to exercise these powers. What does this mean and what is the nomination and confirmation process between these two branches of government? When specifically must the President consult with the Senate on nominations? For whom in the executive branch does this apply and for whom does it not? To shed light on this very important power, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Jon Schaff, Professor of G...
2025-07-1856 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 262 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Heather Yates | Treaties, Power & the Presidency: Article II, Section II, Clause IIThe United States Constitution is efficient in its division of power between the three branches of government. Articles I, II and III create the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches, respectively. Within Article II, Section II gives the President certain powers to function as our chief diplomat with other countries. Just what are these powers? What is the check on this power from the other branches? What is a treaty, and what is the difference between treaties and executive orders? To guide our discussion on Article II, Section II, Clause II we are delighted to welcome Dr. Heather Yates as our gu...
2025-07-1256 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 261 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Adam Carrington | The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution's Checks & BalancesThe Founders knew what they did not want our new government to be. Thomas Jefferson so eloquently made the argument to break away from one form while laying the groundwork for our next form of government. Then James Madison completed that groundwork in the text of Constitution. What do we mean by this? The Declaration spoke of unalienable rights, and declared the purpose of government instituted by man is to secure these rights. The Constitution then completes those thoughts by limiting the power any one person or branch of government can have by instituting checks and balances of each branc...
2025-07-0456 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 260 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Samuel Postell | Balancing Act: The Founders' Big IdeaWhy do we consider the founding of this country to be such a momentous event that changed the trajectory of world history? Think about this: governments had risen and fallen from power for millennia before our country's birth. What was the one big idea that made our founding so unique and its effects long-lasting? To answer this lofty question, we are thrilled to have a leading American scholar as our guest today. Dr. Samuel Postell is Assistant Director of the Lyceum Scholars Program at Clemson University and will expand upon the origins of checks and balances in our U. S. C...
2025-06-2758 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 259 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Matthew Green | The Checks and Balances of CongressWe know checks and balances between the branches of federal government is a hallmark of our republic. But have you considered the checks and balances the Founders crafted into the design of Congress itself, with the House and Senate splitting legislative power? Why did the founders build in checks to prevent too much power residing within one chamber of our bi-cameral legislature and how did they accomplish this objective? To answer these questions and so many more, we are delighted to welcome Dr. Matthew Green as our special guest this week. Dr. Green is a prolific author on American poli...
2025-06-2055 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 258 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Col. Bryan Gibby | 250th Birthday of the U.S. ArmyDid you know the United States Army is older than the United States? The Army has its origins in 1775 at a time when the colonists had a distrust of a standing permanent army like the British employed in the colonies. As such, it was a not a permanent army. The War of 1812 showed our country the need for a permanent national army. In the ensuing years, the United States Army has fought a Civil War, two World Wars and protected American interests around the world. To share further history and the impact of our Army, we are honored to have...
2025-06-1356 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 257 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Tony Williams | Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness - What Does It Really Mean?Thomas Jefferson cemented his legacy as an incredible orator and writer when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, almost 250 years ago. His soaring rhetoric drew inspiration from multiple government and historic traditions: from John Locke to the Magna Carta to the Enlightenment. He used phrases and words that deserve special attention. What did Jefferson mean when he talked about unalienable rights, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, self-evident truths, and the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God? To shed important insight into this world-changing document, we are pleased to welcome back a fan-favorite guest, Tony Williams. Tony is a sen...
2025-06-0755 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 256 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Vincent Phillip Muñoz | What Does "The Separation of Church and State" Really Mean?Did you know the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in our Constitution? The phrase was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. The First Amendment does guarantee "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." What was the intent of the founders in codifying this in the Constitution? Did they intend to keep religion out of government or rather government out of religion? To help us answer these questions and so many more, we are pleased to welcome Vincent Phillip Muñoz, Tocqu...
2025-05-2356 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 256 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Vincent Phillip Muñoz | What Does "The Separation of Church and State" Really Mean?Did you know the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in our Constitution? The phrase was used by Thomas Jefferson in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802. The First Amendment does guarantee "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." What was the intent of the founders in codifying this in the Constitution? Did they intend to keep religion out of government or rather government out of religion? To help us answer these questions and so many more, we are pleased to welcome Vincent Phillip Muñoz, Tocqu...
2025-05-2356 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 255 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | The Presidency and Foreign PolicyOur Constitution does not spend a lot of time detailing foreign policy powers. We know the president can appoint ambassadors, negotiate treaties and use executive agreements in our relations with other governments. But beyond that, what is the role of the presidency? What are the checks and balances with the other branches? What do we mean when we say foreign policy is an "inherent" power? To walk us through this complex power, we are pleased to have Dr. James S. Robbins as our guest this week. Dr. Robbins is Dean of Academics, Institute of World Politics ; Senior Fellow in Nation...
2025-05-1653 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 254 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | We the Government vs We the People: How Government Regulations Stifle LibertyWe have laws in our country passed by Congress. Then we have regulations that come out of the bureaucracy. Our guest today argues that when government grows, individual liberty shrinks. Our guest, Andrew Langer, is the president of the Institute for Liberty. He is going to discuss the benefits and costs (upwards of $4 trillion annually) of regulations, the process to challenge them and the impact of the Administrative Procedures Act (enacted in 1946) and the role of the public in the regulations process.
2025-05-0955 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 253 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Why Close the Department of Education?There's been a lot of discussions in the current administration to streamline government. Part of that includes shuttering departments, including the Department of Education. Did you know for the vast majority of American history, the Department of Education didn't exist and was created in 1979? To walk us through the process of shutting down a department and the reasons for it, we are happy to welcome Neal McCluskey, director of Cato's Center for Educational Freedom. Neal has worked on education reform for over two decades and will share his insights with our panel.
2025-05-0357 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 252 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Tariffs, Presidential Powers and Other Constitutional Issues in the News!We have a very exciting guest on our show this week. He identifies 4 great changes in American history brought upon by the President in office at the time: Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln and FDR. If President Trump is able to fulfill his campaign promises, our guest believes we could be experiencing the 5th period of great change. One of the targeted areas of change the current administration is focusing are our trade agreements globally and tariffs. Joining our all-star student panel to discuss tariffs and other constitutional issues in the news is historian and former Speaker of the House of Repre...
2025-04-2955 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 251 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | America's Mission StatementA mission statement for an organization is a list of aspirational goals. It brings purpose and summarizes values. Through that lens, perhaps we should look at our Declaration of Independence and Constitution as the mission statement for our country. Both documents lay out our country's values and goals in becoming a "more perfect union." Our guest today, our board member Jay McConville, wrote an essay for one of our recent online studies in which he contrasts our country's mission statement with that of communism via The Communist Manifesto. Jay is a military veteran, CEO and civic volunteer and we look...
2025-04-1856 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 250 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Are The Courts Overreaching?Through the separation of powers, the Founders fully intended for each branch of government to be combative with the others. This fighting amongst the branches, they hoped, would protect our liberties and inhibit abuse of power. Each presidential administration must deal with the judicial branch in implementing their agenda, when cases involving their agenda are brought to court. This is what we are discussing today. To help us understand the intricacies of the current judiciary and executive relationship, we are pleased to have as our guest a veteran of all three branches. Professor John Yoo is currently the Emanuel S. H...
2025-04-1153 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 249 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Understanding the Senate: How the Senate Floor Really WorksIt's been called "The World's Greatest Deliberative Body." One-third of its members are elected every two years, and serve six year terms. Presided over by the Vice President of the United States. We are of course talking about the United State Senate. The Founders created the Senate with a purpose, to be a place when debate happens as a "House of Reason." To walk us through the Senate and what separates it from the way the House of Representatives does business, we are thrilled to have two guests on our show this week. Josh Holmes, host of the popular "Ruthle...
2025-04-0456 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 248 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | How Does the House Floor Really WorksOne of the genius aspects of the United States Constitution is the emphasis on protecting individual liberty. The document protects liberty through separation of powers so power is not concentrated exclusively in any one branch. To fulfill the desires of the people, the process through which national legislation is introduced begins on the floor of either the U.S. House or the U.S. Senate. Today, we are talking about the process and procedures for legislation on the floor of the U.S. House. To walk us through this sometimes confusing process, we are delighted to welcome former Virginia Cong...
2025-03-2856 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 247 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | How Does The Committee System in Congress Really Work?Did you know there are thousands upon thousands of bills filed every year in the US House and Senate? Only a fraction of those reach a floor vote and only a small amount of those are passed and signed into law. Before a bill can reach the floor, it must first go through the committee process. To help us learn what this process is and what it entails, we are delighted to welcome Cyrus Artz. Cyrus is the former staff director of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and currently a senior policy advisor in the Office of the...
2025-03-2155 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 246 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | How A Bill Becomes A LawArticle 1 of the US Constitution creates Congress and gives Congress the power to write and pass laws. But what does that process look like? What is the procedure through which a bill introduced in one chamber is then passed in the other chamber? What is the committee process and its effect on whether or not a bill comes to the floor for a vote? What influence can the average American have in this process? To discuss this rather complex process, we are excited to welcome Dr. Dave Brat to our chat this week. Dr. Brat is a former member of Congress...
2025-03-1355 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 245 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | A Day In The Life Of A Speaker Of The HouseNext in the line of succession for the Presidency, after the Vice President. Presiding officer over all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Responsible for implementing a legislative agenda. Today we are discussing one of the most powerful positions in our federal government, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. What are the duties of the speaker? How does the Speaker influence federal policymaking. What role does the Speaker play politically in getting individuals elected and reelected? To walk us through the day to day life of the Speaker of the House, we are happy to welcome Dan M...
2025-03-0655 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 244 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Anita McBride | A Day In The Life Of A First LadyConstitutional Chats Podcast Episode 247 For being such a public figure, the role of the First Lady of the United States is not well-defined. Some have taken very public roles and played a part in crafting and changing policy and others prefer to be a bit more low-profile. Since the role is not defined by any law or statute, it is up to each First Lady to determine the visibility and role they will play in a presidential administration. To guide our student panel through these ever-changing roles, we have a veteran of 4 White House administrations across 3 decades, three...
2025-02-2756 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 243 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Dr. Ed Larson | How George Washington Saved Our RepublicThe American Revolution ended in 1781. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783. George Washington was elected our country's first president in 1788 and sworn in 1789. Besides the Constitutional Convention 1787, there has not been significant scholarly study into what George Washington was doing in the intervening years between the end of the Revolutionary War and his election as President. Our guest today wrote a book on those years called, "The Return of George Washington: Uniting the States, 1783-1789" and will chat with our student panel on Washington's role in laying the groundwork for the new country during those years. Dr. Ed Larson...
2025-02-2255 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 242 | Constitutional Chats | George Sifakis | A Day In The Life Of An Assistant To The PresidentThe Executive Branch of our country, led by the President, oversees millions of federal employees and hundreds of White House staff. Obviously, the President cannot directly manage all of these employees. To aid in this administrative function, the President appoints several dozen "Assistants to the President." This is the highest ranking staff position in the White House and their duty is to provide strategic counsel and oversee major initiatives based on goals set by the President. To further explain this role, we have a former Assistant to the President on our chat today. George Sifakis served in the first Trump...
2025-02-1455 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 241 | Constitutional Chats | Christopher Cox on His Book "Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn"He was a university president who became the President of the United States. He took us into war with Germany in World War I but later won a Nobel Peace Prize as the leading architect behind the League of Nations. To discuss our 28th President with our student panel, we are pleased to welcome Christopher Cox to talk about his book, "Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn."
2025-02-0756 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp 240 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Jim Pinkerton | Buying Greenland: A Constitutional Deep DiveThe idea of the United States acquiring Greenland is not a new idea. This idea has been kicked around since the 19th century but revisited with the new presidential administration. Why would the US have an interest in acquiring Greenland? What are the strategic and economic advantages in doing so? How could this acquisition be compared to the Louisiana Purchase? And can it even happen? There are lots of questions surrounding this timely topic and to help our student panel address them, we are happy to welcome back Jim Pinkerton. Jim is a longtime columnist for Fox News and Breitba...
2025-01-3156 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEEp. 239 | Constitutional Chats Podcast | Sean Spicer | What Happens on Day One in a New White House?When one presidential administration ends, another begins. While the public watches the transition on TV, behind the scenes there's a well orchestrated symphony executing the plan to bring in a new administration. To walk us through the nuts and bolts of what happens behind the scenes, we are joined by a veteran of one such transition as a guest today! Sean Spicer served as the 30th White House Press Secretary and Acting White House Communications Director during the first Trump administration and will share his insight into this historic day.
2025-01-2457 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 238 | Savannah Eccles Johnston | Checks and Balances in Action: Safeguarding Our LibertiesHow do you create limited, but at the same time, strong and effective government? In tackling this problem, our Founders relied on three branches with each branch having strong offensive and defensive weapons to use against the other branches' possible encroachments. The Founders understood an ineffective government is just as dangerous to liberty as an authoritarian government. They wanted a strong executive branch but didn't want that power concentrated in one person to devolve into tyranny. To walk us through this fascinating topic, we are pleased to welcome Savannah Eccles Johnston. She is an assistant professor of political science at S...
2025-01-1755 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 237 | Constitutional Chats | Mary Katharine Ham | Has There Been A Free Speech Vibe Shift?Free speech was so important to our Founders they wrote it into the First Amendment to the Constitution. Over the last decade, we have seen an erosion of free speech support through cancel culture, suppression on college campuses and "fact checkers" on social media platforms. Did we finally reach a tipping point and are beginning to rally once again around the idea of free speech? Just this week we saw Meta announce they will no longer use fact checkers but community notes in their platforms. To discuss this topic with our all-star student panel, we are pleased to welcome FOX...
2025-01-0956 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 236 | GianCarlo Canaparo | The Bill of Rights: How It Came About and the Debates That Shaped ItIt's 1787. Under the current Articles of Confederation the American experiment is struggling. James Madison knew a new guiding document was needed. Once opposed to a Bill of Rights, it was Madison who would ultimately introduce the Bill of Rights in 1789. Why was Madison originally opposed to a Bill of Rights? What documents influenced him? Why were the Bill of Rights necessary and what were the criticisms of the Constitution before the Bill of Rights? Discussing this momentous event in history with our student panel, we are happy to welcome GianCarlo Canaparo, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
2024-12-1955 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 235 | Constitutional Chats | Kirk Higgins | How To Get Youth Excited About Civic Education & WhyWhy does Constituting America do the work we do in educating young people about the U.S. Constitution and our country's founding principles? Think about this. According to our guest, in a spectral analysis of the Declaration of Independence, in Thomas Jefferson's original draft, he wrote "our fellow subjects." In the draft we all know, he used "our fellow citizens." The difference in that word is remarkable. It shows the change in thinking that we were once subjects to a government but now we are citizens who can dictate our government so that it works for us. Constituting America exists...
2024-12-1352 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 237 - The Genius of America: How De Tocqueville Saw Our FutureFor our annual online academic study this year, we are taking a journey through our republic with Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America." It is perhaps the best book ever written about America and democracy, according to our guest today. In this work, De Toqueville takes on an almost prophetic voice in predicting the future of our country and our constitutional republic. How was De Tocqueville able to leverage his knowledge of philosophy to accomplish this? What truths was he willing to tell us about our governmental institutions? To walk us through this aspect of De Toqueville's work, we are h...
2024-12-0656 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 236: The First Amendment on College CampusesThe 1st Amendment recognizes our God-given right to free speech without government restriction. But what is a college student to do when it's their own college suppressing their free speech? What is that student to do when that suppression directly leads to hate speech and violent threats from their fellow students simply for having a differing opinion? Our guest was such a student. We are delighted to welcome back to Constituting American Evita Duffy. Evita won our "We the Future" contest back in 2010. Since that time, she attended the University of Chicago and is now a journalist. We are happy t...
2024-11-2352 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaPicture this: You are a young child growing up in a suburb of Boston. You happen to a big fan of the musical "Hamilton" and through an educational TV show, you learn that the park where you regularly ride your bike and your neighborhood is portrayed in the musical you love! This is exactly what happened with this week's special guest, Sabrina Bhattacharjya. Now a 14-year old historian, Sabrina has dived deep into the history of her town, Lexington, Massachusetts. This is where the infamous "shot heard 'round the world" took place that started the American Revolution. Sabrina has since...
2024-11-1454 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 234: Special Election Day Live Podcast: Everything You Need to Know About the Electoral CollegeThe electoral college is one of the most important characteristics of our republic, but it is also perhaps the most misunderstood. Every time we vote for President the merit of the electoral college is debated. But what is it? Why was it created? How does it protect small states, and preserve state identity? Should we view it as a problem itself or an effective solution to a problem? To address all of these questions and so much more, we are delighted to have Michael Maibach, electoral college expert and Distinguished Fellow for Save Our States, as our special guest thi...
2024-11-0955 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 233 - The Connecticut CompromiseIt's 1787 and you are a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. You represent a midsize state and arriving 3 days late, you encounter James Madison's Virginia Plan to allocate representation among the states proportionally. You realize how this would be a detriment to smaller states who are needed to ratify the Constitution. What do you do? You are Roger Sherman from Connecticut and you draft the Connecticut Compromise which allocates representation in the lower chamber based on population but guarantees equal state representation in the upper chamber. Why was this necessary and what other provisions did it entail? To answer these questi...
2024-11-0255 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 232 - Reagan & the ConstitutionHe was an actor, governor and our 40th president. Today, we are discussing the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Though now a modern icon of conservatives, Reagan's political leanings were originally democrat as a supporter of FDR and Truman. During his presidential term, through what lens did Reagan approach the limitations placed on government? In what way was he a Constitutional originalist? How did this belief factor into navigating a constitutional crisis like the Iran Contra Affair? To guide us in this chat, we are pleased to welcome back an alumni of the Reagan White House and current Senior Fellow in the...
2024-10-2557 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 231 - Eisenhower & the ConstitutionToday, we are discussing our country's 34th President, Dwight Eisenhower. A Texan by birth but raised in Kansas, Eisenhower graduated from West Point and during World War II served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe and was promoted to 5-star General of the US Army. Twice elected President, Eisenhower notably led our country as we entered the Cold War. In what ways did Eisenhower's military experience shape his views on domestic and foreign policy? What civil rights advancements were made during his tenure? What was his overall sense of duty? To help us in this...
2024-10-1854 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 230 - FDR & the ConstitutionPresident Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as the 32nd US President and was our longest serving president, having run for and won four elections to the presidency. FDR was President during two tumultuous events in US history, the Great Depression and the outbreak of World War II. Pulling a page from the Woodrow Wilson playbook, FDR expanded the administrative state even further. In what ways did FDR expand the scope and size of the federal government? Why did the American people elect him four times to the office of the presidency? What did he mean when he spoke of "bold, pers...
2024-10-1157 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 229 - Herbert Hoover & the ConstitutionIn our chat today, we are focusing on our 31st President, Herbert Hoover. Born poor to a Quaker family in Iowa in 1874, Hoover was one of the first graduates of Stanford University in 1895. He earned a fortune as a mining engineer and had business interests on 6 of 7 continents. He rose to public prominence during World War I and joined the Woodrow Wilson administration as the leader of the Food Administration. He successfully ran for President in 1928 but his administration was quickly stained by Prohibition (which he inherited from the previous administration) and the stock market crash and Great Depression. He wa...
2024-10-0558 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 228 - Woodrow Wilson & the Constitution: How Wilson Started The Slide Toward the Administrative StateThe administrative state, the professional bureaucracy in our federal government, has not always been such a feature in how government functions. Did you know President Woodrow Wilson helped precipitate the rapid rise in that bureaucracy? How did this happen and why? What did Wilson mean when he spoke of an elastic constitution, and how does it threaten our freedom? To walk our student panel through this topic, we are delighted to have William Morrissey, Professor Emeritus at Hillsdale College, as our special guest constitutional expert.
2024-09-2756 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 227 - The Genius of America - A Journey Into Our Republic: Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy In AmericaIn 1831, a 26 year-old French member of the aristocracy arrived in New York City to examine our prison system. Alexis de Tocqueville would do that and so much more. Over 9 months, he and his travel companion, Gustave de Beaumont, traveled extensively and in 1835, he published "Democracy in America." De Tocqueville studied and answered what it took to perpetuate our political institutions, what the "habits of the American heart" are and what it means to be an American. In fact, it was De Tocqueville who coined the term American Exceptionalism. To guide our student panel as we discuss this seminal work, we ar...
2024-09-1255 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 226 - John Adams and the ConstitutionPerhaps no Founding Father exemplifies the ideal of a citizen-legislator quite like John Adams. Never a wealthy man, Adams dedicated his life and contributed greatly to our country in its infancy: as a lawyer, as a delegate to the Continental Congress, as our first Vice President and as our second President. What was the basis for Adam's beliefs in how our country should be structured and why does our guest today argue John Adams was the greatest of our Founding Fathers? Join our student panel as we welcome C. Bradley Thompson, Professor of Political Science at Clemson University, for thi...
2024-08-2859 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 225 - Coolidge and the ConstitutionHe was a city mayor, state representative and state senator. He was a lieutenant governor and governor. And he was a vice president and president. Today, we are discussing the accomplishments of Calvin Coolidge. He was an ardent defender of the US Constitution and fought the trend to alter and reinterpret the provisions in the Constitution. He was also a dedicated "Toquevillian." To guide our student panel in this discussion, we are thrilled to welcome Amity Shlaes as a guest. She is the author of "Coolidge" (2013) and is the chair board of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.
2024-08-2353 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 224 - George Washington & The ConstitutionHe was a solider, general, President and statesman. George Washington is one of those few historical figures whose real-life accomplishments live up to the legend of the man. But what was Washington's role in crafting the document that ultimately made him President? What were his thoughts on the role of a federal government in our new country? To help us understand Washington's mindset during this pivotal era, we are delighted to welcome Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association for this informative chat with our student panel.
2024-08-1653 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 222 - Understanding Convention Delegates — Who, How, When and Why!During the summer before every presidential election, both major political parties host their conventions. Part of their function is to formally nominate their candidate for President. Just who are the thousands of delegates who attend? What are their duties? How are they chosen? To help us understand everything related to these conventions and delegates, we are excited to welcome back election law expert Mark Braden and our student panel for this discussion.
2024-08-0254 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 221 - Will Recent Supreme Court Cases Shift Power Away From Federal Agencies?Back in April, we discussed the Chevron Doctrine and the power it gave to unelected officials in various agencies. This doctrine allowed agencies to rely on their own interpretation of ambiguous law. In the recent Loper Bright decision, the Supreme Court struck down this doctrine. To help our student panel understand the long term ramifications of this decision, we are delighted to welcome back Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for this timely discussion.
2024-07-2652 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 220 - Supreme Court Empowers Local Communities–Learn More About The Recent Decision On Homeless EncampmentsBack in May, we discussed a Supreme Court case that was about to be decided regarding actions local governments had taken regarding homelessness encampments in public spaces, in their cities. Late last month, the Supreme Court sided 6-3 with the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, ruling their laws did not violate the 8th amendment prohibitions against cruel and unusual punishment. Returning from that previous show, we are thrilled to welcome back Thomas Jipping, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, as he discusses the ramifications of this U.S. Supreme Court decision with our student panel.
2024-07-1955 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 219 - Presidential Immunity: What Does the Recent Supreme Court Decision Mean?As with most Supreme Court decisions, the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity is both complex and misunderstood. The Court had to rule on what level of immunity the President has in regard to his official duties as President. This case involves a complex series of rulings from various courts but we are thankful to have returning as our guest, former US Attorney and retired Navy JAG officer Charles “Cully” Stimson. Cully will help our all-star student panel unravel the complexities of this landmark Supreme Court case.
2024-07-1156 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 219 - Presidential Immunity: What Does the Recent Supreme Court Decision Mean?As with most Supreme Court decisions, the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity is both complex and misunderstood. The Court had to rule on what level of immunity the President has in regard to his official duties as President. This case involves a complex series of rulings from various courts but we are thankful to have returning as our guest, former US Attorney and retired Navy JAG officer Charles "Cully" Stimson. Cully will help our all-star student panel unravel the complexities of this landmark Supreme Court case.
2024-07-1156 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 219 - Presidential Immunity: What Does the Recent Supreme Court Decision Mean?As with most Supreme Court decisions, the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity is both complex and misunderstood. The Court had to rule on what level of immunity the President has in regard to his official duties as President. This case involves a complex series of rulings from various courts but we are thankful to have returning as our guest, former US Attorney and retired Navy JAG officer Charles "Cully" Stimson. Cully will help our all-star student panel unravel the complexities of this landmark Supreme Court case.
2024-07-1156 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 218 – You Chose To Celebrate The American People!This week we celebrate the spirit of the American people! A country's identity is directly tied to its people. A good way to gauge the characteristics and spirit of a country's people is to look at the country from an outsider's perspective. That's exactly what Alexis de Tocqueville did when he came to America in 1831. The French-born aristocrat traveled extensively around our country and in 1835 wrote of his observations and experiences in "Democracy in America." What can we learn from his observations? Are his observations still relevant nearly 200 years later? To help us further understand the importance and relevance of de...
2024-07-0456 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 217 – You Chose Celebrating The American Dream!When you hear the term "the American Dream" what do you think of first? Homeownership? Going to college? Having a great job? Safe communities? All are correct answers. What is amazing about that dream is that it can be unique to each of us, yet is something we all collectively enjoy in this country. Think about this. Our Constitution does not specifically mention the American Dream, but it protects the freedoms to pursue it. The American Dream did not happen by accident and our guest argues it's largely driven by economic liberty. To find out why, join our student panel an...
2024-06-2957 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 216 - You Chose to Celebrate Our Beautiful Country – From Sea To Shining Sea!Our country is one of unimaginable beauty. From snow-capped mountain peaks to arid deserts to peaceful beaches, our varied landscapes have spoken to our soul as a nation for generations. Our country currently preserves 63 sites with the "national park" designation, with a total of 429 sites in the system. To help us better understand the history and significance of these locales, we are delighted to welcome two guests to our chat this week. Linda Harvey is a former Deputy Director of the National Park Service. Karla Morton is the 2010 Texas Poet Laureate and has written extensive poetry about our national parks...
2024-06-2053 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 215 - You Choose to Celebrate Federalism!We admit it. We are big fans of federalism. Regular listeners will understand that Constitution grants certain rights to the federal government and courtesy of the 10th amendment, remaining powers are reserved for the states. Does this mean federalism is a function of recognition of states' rights? Our special guest argues this characterization is better suited if we view federalism as a function of decentralized and self-government as it relies on local authority. Join our guest, Dr. William B. Allen, Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy and Dean of James Madison College at Michigan State University, and our student panel for t...
2024-06-1255 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 214 - Celebrate America: You Chose to Celebrate Freedom!As Americans, do we sometimes have a tendency to take freedom for granted? When it's something most of us have lived with our entire lives, the answer is assuredly yes. That's to be expected as we can't fully comprehend what it is to live without. But ask anyone born under a dictator or totalitarian regime and they quickly remind of us of the blessings of liberty, since they once lived without it. To help remind us of this blessing of freedom, we are honored to have Ambassador Aldona Woś. Polish born, Ambassador Woś served as the US Ambassador to Estoni...
2024-06-0757 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 213 - The Trump Tax Cuts Case Before The Supreme CourtThe 16th Amendment gives power to congress to "lay and collect taxes." After all, a country has to have an ability to raise revenue. When it comes to that revenue, we have had a tradition of paying taxes on income, not the value of an investment, like paying taxes when we sell a few shares of stock in a company and not on the growth of that stock every year we own it. Those are called realized gains. There is discussion in the federal government to change that and tax unrealized gains meaning we would have to pay taxes on...
2024-05-2354 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 212: What Is Gerrymandering?The Constitution dictates every 10 years we undergo a Census to count how many people live in each state. Based off these population numbers, congressional seats are then apportioned. States who lost population might lose a seat and states who grew may gain a seat or two since we can only have 435 total seats in the U.S. House. This brings up an obvious question: who gets to redraw congressional districts after apportionment and can they redraw those districts for a political benefit? This is where gerrymandering comes into play. According to our guest expert, "gerrymandering" is drawing districts that are p...
2024-05-1656 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 211 - Homeless Encampments In Public SpacesCity Councils all across the country have been tackling an issue that has bipartisan concern: how to tackle homeless populations within their cities. Grants Pass, OR., is one such city. Grants Pass is in the middle of the Supreme Court case Johnson v. Grants Pass that is challenging that city's ability to levy civil and criminal punishments to deter homeless encampments. A Supreme Court decision is expected this summer. To help our student panel understand the broad implications of this Supreme Court case and the "strait jacket" put on cities by lower courts to enforce their ordinances, we are deli...
2024-05-1051 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 210 - What Is The SEC? Do "In House" Tribunals Violate the Right To Jury?Trial by jury and fair court proceedings bound by constitutional restraint are bedrock principles of our federal government. Imagine being charged with a crime by a federal agency except the agency handles the entire court proceedings with a judge on its payroll. The Securities and Exchange Commission was created by a 1934 act in response to the Great Depression and Stock Market Crash of 1929. In 2008, in response to the financial crisis, its powers were significantly expanded through the Dodd Frank Act. Under that legislation, the SEC was allowed to have in-house court proceedings with administrative law judges it hires. As such...
2024-05-0355 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 209 - How Far Can The EPA Go In Regulating A State's Emissions?In February of this year, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Ohio v. EPA. This case challenges the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to enforce the Good Neighbor Plan which aims to curb pollution carried by the wind into neighboring states. As usual, legal proceedings can easily become confusing as a lawsuit makes its way to the Supreme Court. Fortunately, we are welcoming back Steve Bradbury, a distinguished fellow at the Heritage Foundation, to help us unravel this case as we discuss the background and ramifications of this lawsuit.
2024-04-2555 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 208 - Limiting Unelected Officials' PowersFederally, we have 536 elected positions between Congress and the President. We then have 2.8 million federal employees. How do we limit the power among the unelected officials we have in our federal government? To tackle this very important question, the Supreme Court introduced the Chevron Doctrine (also called the Chevron Deference) as a result of the 1984 Supreme Court case Chevron USA v Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. To help us understand the complexities of the Chevron Doctrine, how the powers of unelected officials have grown over the years and how current cases before the Supreme Court may affect these powers, we a...
2024-04-1958 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 207 - What Does The Constitution Say About Presidential Immunity?Presidential immunity is in the news a lot lately. It derives from a notion that all three branches of government retain powers to execute their duties under the constitution. But there is also a tradition in our country that no one is above the law. In a nation that follows established law, not following those laws can lead to anarchy or distrust in the government. We have a lot to unpack with this very timely and relevant topic. To help us do so alongside our student panel, we are delighted to welcome fan-favorite guest Adam Carrington, associate professor of poli...
2024-04-141h 01Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 206 - Can Elected Officials Block You On Social Media?Did you know the United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear four cases pertaining to social media this term? One of the major issues is whether or not an elected official has the authority to limit speech on social media accounts by blocking critical comments pertaining to their work in office. We know government cannot prohibit your speech, but are elected officials required to permit all comments on their official pages, or can they censor them? What about their personal pages? Can the government pressure social media companies to take down posts the government seems "misinformation"? There's a lot...
2024-04-0556 min
Consulting Success PodcastThe Strategic Advantage Of Solo Consultants & Small Firms With Cathy Gillespie: Podcast #324
Struggling to scale your consulting business without sacrificing your core values? This episode is for you! Join Michael as he interviews Cathy Gillespie, a consultant who helps companies design and develop effective learning experiences. Cathy shares her secrets for growing a thriving consulting business that prioritizes both profit and purpose. In this episode with Cathy, you’ll learn how to:
Grow your firm while maintaining your small, agile, and resourceful essence.
Utilize mentors to elevate and expand your consulting empire.
Cultivate a thriving referral system from your existing customer base.
Utilize an independent accr...
2024-04-0141 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 205 - How To Fix Congress?Who is the Speaker of the House and what are his duties? How does a bill become law? What are the three branches of government. Let's be honest, so many in our country are not fully educated on civics. If we don't understand how Congress works, we get frustrated with the whole process. This leads to an overall sentiment that Congress is broken. Our guest today likes to say "without public trust, you cannot govern. Without governing, people get angry and hostile and walk away from the system." Today, joining our student panel to discuss how we can begin to fix t...
2024-03-2857 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 204 - George Washington's Vision For National GovernmentWinning a war was just the beginning for George Washington's service to our new country. After retiring to Mount Vernon post-war, Washington saw a weakness in our country under the Articles of Confederation. He felt the future of republican democratic self-government globally was dependent on the American experiment. If it were to fail in that perfect post-war moment, man was probably not destined to govern himself. Washington's views on what the government should look like can seem to be contradictory in that he wanted a strong central government, as opposed to what the country had under the Articles of Con...
2024-03-2358 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 203 - The Strategy for State GovernmentThe relationship between the federal and state governments is not always clear. These two governments exist simultaneously but at times have different goals and objectives. The federal government can use its purse strings to coerce a state government to take an action and that state can simply refuse. The Founders wanted states to solve major issues that were not under the federal purview to establish "laboratories of democracy." Joining our all-star student panel, we are happy to welcome Ken Cuccinelli, former Virginia state senator, Virginia attorney general and Deputy Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, as we discuss this unique relat...
2024-03-1456 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 202 - The Importance of Local GovernmentCan you name the President? We hope yes! Can you name your state's governor? More than likely yes. But can you name your mayor and city council members? While the issues nationally get the most attention, your local government's actions impact your day-to-day life more. Issues like your water supply, trash pickup, sewage, and police and fire departments are all controlled by local entities. Some mayors aren't paid a salary at all but one defining feature of mayors is they come directly out of the community in which they are serving. They are your friend and neighbor. To help us better...
2024-03-0855 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 201 - The Genius of the Town HallRegular listeners will certainly recognize this famous phrase from the Declaration of Independence: "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." As the governed who give consent to the government, we have several mechanisms through which we can give that consent and voice approval or disapproval with an elected official. Perhaps the most direct mechanism is through a town hall discussion. A town hall is simply a public meeting between an elected official and their constituents where a number of topics pertaining to upcoming or past legislation can...
2024-03-0159 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 200 - What is Federalism Anyway?At Constituting America, we love to talk about federalism. Federalism is a founding principle that government authority is best when one central government does not have all authority, but it is divvied up between local, state and national government. Have you ever thought about why we have this system and what its virtues are? In a large country with varied geographical interests, why does this system work? Should those closest to a problem be the ones to solve that problem, and what are the benefits of this principle of subsidiarity? To help us further grasp the virtues of federalism, we a...
2024-02-2355 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 199 - The U.S. Constitution and Protecting Citizens: Federal vs. StateWe have a military. We have a militia. When it comes to protecting our citizens, both play a role. The same militia mentioned in the second amendment is actually defined in 10 U.S. Code § 246 as able-bodied men over 17 and under 45 years old, who are or intend to become US citizens and female citizens who are members of the National Guard. What precisely are the differences in roles of the organized and unorganized militia compared to the military? Under what circumstances is a militia's Commander in Chief the President or a state's governor? When can the military and militia be deploye...
2024-02-1655 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 198 - The U.S. Constitution and The BorderOne of the biggest events in the news lately has been the situation at our southern border and illegal immigration. Texas, due to its lengthy border with Mexico, is front and center in this discussion that involves the role both state and federal governments play in immigration. While the U.S. Constitution says Congress has the authority to write immigration-related laws and the executive branch has the authority to implement these laws, what can a state do if the laws are not carried out? Joining our all-star student panel to answer this, we are pleased to welcome Lora Ries, Dir...
2024-02-0855 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 197 - The U.S. Constitution and National SovereigntySince World War II, the United States, as the world's lone superpower, has promoted democracy around the world with a focus on the longevity of the nation-state. After all, a nation-state that is whole and free, holds free and frequent elections and is representative of its people will tend to have greater stability, less war, more prosperity and greater trade opportunities. But as our guest discusses, lately we are seeing a greater build-up of multi-lateral and regional organizations to replace the nation-state. How can the US foster a greater reliance on the nation-state as the core unit of analysis? Ho...
2024-02-0256 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 196 - The Constitution and Declaring WarThink about the environment under which our Constitution was drafted. Our new nation had just waged and won a war for independence and was surrounded on all sides with hostility: the British in the north and their navy out to sea, the Spanish empire to the south, British and French ships patrolling the Caribbean and sometimes hostile Native American tribes to the west. Our Founders knew war was necessary but also had a healthy wariness about where the power to wage it should reside. The Founders questioned if war powers could lead to tyranny and questioned the effect of sta...
2024-01-2557 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 195 - The Constitution and IsraelIn 1948, the United States under President Truman became the first country to recognize the existence of Israel. Since then, the two nations have been staunch allies. This alliance is certainly being put to the test with the latest round of fighting between the state of Israel and Hamas, the Islamic group which controls Gaza. What is the legal process for the US to provide aid to Israel? What is the dual role Congress and the President play in helping our ally? To help us answer these questions and more, we are delighted to welcome Lt. General (Ret.) Keith Kellogg. Gener...
2024-01-1858 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 194 - The Constitution and UkraineSeemingly, the United States has been engaged in some armed conflict somewhere in the world for most of our lives. However, the United States has not had a formal declaration of war since World War II. How exactly does that happen? From what authority does the Congress and President engage in war or armed conflict? What is a Congressional Authorization for Use of Military Force and what are its limitations? How does all of this relate to the almost 2 year long conflict in Ukraine today? To help us answer all of these worthwhile questions with our all-star student panel, we are...
2024-01-1355 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 193 - The Tenth AmendmentWe are wrapping up our series on the Bill of Rights with this special episode on the 10th Amendment. In just 28 words, it grants tremendous powers not to the federal government but to the states. How so? Regular viewers of our chats know Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution grants 17 specific powers to Congress. That's it. The 10th Amendment says any powers not granted by the Constitution to the federal government are under the purview of the states or the people. The Founders did this because they were wary of a strong central government, having just fought a war against a stro...
2023-12-1455 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 192 - The Ninth AmendmentThe Ninth Amendment might seem a bit confusing at first glance. To understand its massive significance requires some insight into what the Founders were thinking. Think of the Bill of Rights not as granting rights to the people but rather restricting what the government can and cant do in the lives of its citizens. To wit, it would be impractical to list every right a citizen has and as such the rights specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights should not be viewed as a limit to those rights. Helping us and our all-star student panel grasp the importance of t...
2023-12-0756 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 191 - The Eighth AmendmentOnce again, the Founders showed their preference for brevity with the 8th Amendment. It is actually the shortest of all the amendments but packs a wallop in just 16 words! In this week's chat, we are discussing the elements of the 8th Amendment: protections against excessive bails and fines and protections against cruel and unusual punishments. We answer what is a cruel and unusual punishment, who decides the standard by which punishment is deemed legal or illegal, how does this relate to "death-eligible" crimes in the application of the death penalty and what is the evolving standard of decency that's used a...
2023-12-0155 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 190 - The Seventh AmendmentAs we discussed last week, the Sixth Amendment guarantees a trial by jury in a criminal trial, among other guarantees. The Seventh Amendment guarantees a trial by jury in federal civil cases for disputes over $20. Why were the Founders so adamant about jury trials as opposed to a single judge? What is the difference between a civil or common law trial and a criminal trial? What are the exceptions to a trial by jury? And how does this apply and function in conjunction with state law? Alongside our student panel, we are delighted to welcome Eric J. Wise, partner at A...
2023-11-1754 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 189 - The Sixth AmendmentA criminal trial has the potential to permanently alter the rest of one's life. Punishments can range from fines to imprisonment to execution. This gives the government tremendous ability to impose penalties on its citizens. The Founders understood this and laid out criteria under which criminal trials would proceed. Under the Sixth Amendment, trials are speedy and fair, juries are impartial and Congress cannot take any of these rights away from the accused. We are delighted to have joining our all-star student panel Paul J. Larkin, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation as he helps us understand the focus...
2023-11-0954 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 188 - The Fifth AmendmentThe Fifth Amendment really packs a punch. Think about the Constitution like this: the body of the Constitution created the new government and the Bill of Rights immediately put constraints on that government's power. The Founders had a natural skepticism and nervousness about governmental power especially when it comes to the prosecuting of criminal activity. The Fifth Amendment lists 5 significant restraints on government: indictments by a grand jury, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, guarantees of due process and protects private property through the Takings Clause. Joining our all-star student panel, we are delighted to have returning fan-favorite guest Andrew Langer, President of t...
2023-11-0353 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 187 - The Fourth AmendmentThe Fourth Amendment provides two specific protections: protection against unreasonable searches and seizures and requirements for when a warrant can be issued. At only 54 words, the amendment continues the Founders' penchant for brevity and leaves room for interpretation through the courts. How do we define what is unreasonable and probable and how has this standard changed over time? At one point the United States Supreme Court said a search had to involve a physical trespass onto your property. Obviously that standard has changed due to wiretaps and electronic communication. To help us unpack the ever-changing circumstances around how we define s...
2023-10-2655 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 186 - The Third Amendment: Is It Relevant Today?At first glance, in a contemporary view, the Third Amendment may seem like a relic from the founding era of our country. Today, it would seem strange for the military to require homeowners to house and feed soldiers. We think it just would not happen. Perhaps the certainty around it not happening today should be attributed to the Third Amendment's success: being so unambiguous and precise when it was written. Join our all-star student panel and returning guest Hans von Spakovsky, Senior Legal Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, for this insightful discussion on this oft-overlooked yet critical amendment and the...
2023-10-1954 minConstitutional Chats Presented By Constituting AmericaEp. 185: The Second Amendment: Can a Governor Issue an Executive Order to Restrict Gun Rights?Last month the governor of New Mexico issued a temporary public health order restricting the carrying of firearms in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The bipartisan pushback against this order was swift and she later amended the order to only apply at parks and playgrounds. From where, if anywhere at all, did the governor derive such a power? Does this conflict with the second amendment and laws that allow for carrying of firearms? This is the topic we are discussing today. Joining our all-star student panel, we are honored to have John R. Lott, Jr., President of the Crime Prevention Cente...
2023-10-1352 min
Homeschool Success with Kami Wanous9. Teaching the American Founding & Constitution Day with Cathy GillespieTeaching the ideas, principles and history of the American Founding and the Constitution is one of the most important things to include in your homeschool curriculum and daily conversation. It affects all of our daily lives, the ability to change what is necessary, keep the freedoms we have and participate in how we are able to live.
Cathy Gillespie, Constituting America's CEO, has held numerous positions in government and politics over the past 34 years including congressional chief of staff and member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows. Cathy was recently appointed to the United St...
2023-09-1146 min
Florida SpectacularEpisode 11: author Tyler Gillespie (The Thing About Florida)Send us your Florida questions!Tyler Gillespie joins the podcast this week to talk about his new book, The Thing About Florida (UPF, April 2021), growing up in Florida as a gay Christian, and other Florida stories (including how lucky he feels to be Floridian.) To learn more about Tyler's book and his upcoming speaking events, visit his website.Support the showQuestion or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com. Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at...
2021-03-0935 min
Explain to ShaneConstitution Day special (with Janine Turner, Cathy Gillespie, and Tova Love Kaplan)Although more young people are getting engaged in politics, civic education is absent from the curriculums of many American high schools and universities. Still, learning about the founding fathers is crucial to understanding why the American political system is unique. As social media platforms take politics online, how can we use technology to educate young people on the United States’ founding principles? To honor Constitution Day, Shane welcomes three guests from Constituting America — a foundation that seeks to educate America’s youth on the enduring importance of the US constitution. Founder Janine Turner, Co-Chair Cathy Gillespie, and Youth...
2020-09-1625 min
She Said / She SaidInspiring kids (and adults) to embrace the US Constitution & Civic Education: Cathy Gillespie, co-president of Constituting America – Episode #40It’s one thing to complain about voter and citizen apathy, it’s another to roll up one’s sleeves and do something about it. That’s just what Cathy Gillespie is doing. Along with Constituting America co-president, actress Janine Turner who founded the organization, the duo is tackling one of the most serious threats to U.S. democracy — an uneducated citizenry.
Their approach is unique — taking the U.S. Constitution and challenging kids to use the arts and different media to bring it to life. From public service announcements and short films, to poetry and song, Constituting...
2018-12-1936 min