That is the first part of Article I, Section I of our US Constitution. The remainder of that sentence states “….which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.”
I am no Constitutional scholar nor have ever claimed to be. I am also not a mathematician. So please correct me if I’m wrong, but when I see the word “All”, I think of that as meaning one hundred percent. And, if my numbers are correct, that would mean that zero percent is remaining for the Judicial and Executive branches.
Let’s take this step by step: only the Congress and Senate have been given the power by our own precious Constitution to make laws. As a result, the Supreme Court and President have not been. This is also known in looser terms as being left outside in the rain looking in through the window.
Why, then, if it is supposedly so crystal clear as to where these powers lie do we have people like Bill Clinton lackey Paul Bagala making statements like “Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Pretty cool.” (note that he did not think it was ‘pretty cool’ when Bush was in office)? Or why do The People seem to take for granted that the Supreme Court legislates from the bench instead of simply upholding the laws that those in the House have already passed? Why do so many of us assume that the president can sign a law into effect simply because external circumstances seem to have demanded it without going through the proper channels?
The answer is “they can’t”. Or at least they aren’t supposed to be able to. But the government has largely feasted upon the ignorance of Americans to advance agendas that have often proven to not be beneficial to most of us. But even if the Supreme Court justices and the president were to behave themselves and remain in their proper place, would this stop an increasingly corrupt Congress from picking and choosing which portions of the Consti- tution to which they wish to adhere or to honor it at all? Most of our representatives have proven otherwise.
We need to exit the Left/Right, Liberal/Conservative paradigm and focus on being Constitutionalists. It never ceases to amaze me how many have tried to twist that word into something evil or suspicious. It shows us how most people have no idea what is in the Constitution or, of those who do, they either don’t care or think it is outdated. This became more clear to me this past March in Midtown Manhattan when I and others were passing out copies of the Freedom Index (gives your Senator/Congressman’s score regarding his/her voting record when it comes to the Constitution). A very astute woman – one who actually knew who her Congresswoman was - came up to me and started intently reading this index. After about two minutes, she looked up at me and said “I don’t have a problem with my Representative’s voting record (it was at 0%, by the way). I don’t have a problem with TARP. I don’t have a problem with NAFTA.” and she politely turned and walked away, quickly. This helped me realize that our battle lies in informing people about the Constitution and its role in maintaining smaller government, which translates to greater freedom for them. This helped me realize that we have a situation that transcends party politics and goes straight for the jugular of liberty. This helped me realize that we have a perfect document that is constantly being attacked and undermined by the very ones who swore to protect it when taking office.
Let’s do ourselves a favor and seek out and support those who are in government and/or running for office who have a proven track record of honoring our Constitution.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Consti and J,
Thanks.
Erik,
You article, for some reason got to me. The voice, the herald of your thoughts are of course familiar, and disappearing. The left has indeed stolen our national awareness, starting in the 60′s with the children, growing stronger all the time.
Evil, like electricity, follows the route of least resistance. Children, the courts, the lazy minded. They started stacking the lower courts and worked their way up to the circuts and now the supreme.
People like Ron Paul (perhaps one of the few Constitutionalist left) are not taken seriously, even by the right, branded extremist. And for what? Literal reading of our Blessed Founding Constitution.
At the beginning of our decline, a few sought power at the expense of our rights and freedoms, Now maybe MOST seek a peice of the power through entitlements and personal security. Why strive when it can be handed out without so much effort and possible personal failure.
I fear the great thoughts you so eliquently espouse may be a chapter of our history. The unions (especially teaching) are just growing stronger, and I don’t see a leader on the horizon that can turn the tide. At best we can hope for a slowing of our sinking boat.
Just call me Mr. Sunshine.
Erik,
“This helped me realize that our battle lies in informing people about the Constitution and its role in maintaining smaller government, which translates to greater freedom for them.”
The sad sorry fact is that constitutionalism is not taught in the schools any more. Instead we have extreme left liberal academics who would rather teach the children to sing the praises of Obama than the history of this country. This liberal indoctrination and re-writing of history has gone on for decades. That’s why the woman in your example was ok with her representative wiping himself with the constitution. That’s why the recent Texas decision about text books is being attacked by the left. My generation (perhaps yours as well) was really the last to have a decent education as to the content of the constitution. Today according to the younger members of my family all that is covered is the preamble to the constitution in high school classes.
And we all know the vilification and harassment that conservative teachers face in our schools today. Just look at the news reports of kids getting failing grades when drawing pictures of the flag, or the breaking of the Massachusetts LAW that requires the pledge of allegiance before the school day. There is a Senior who has been fighting the school district to re-instate it and so far the only concession that has been given is a moment of silence in the HALLWAY for children to recite the pledge.
Until we get the leftist unions out of the schools and the school boards I don’t think proper constitutional education will be given to those generations that follow us. To those leftist unions it’s all about the children in their seats so they can be federally funded.
And that’s my two centavos.
P.S. great points in the article BTW…