Constitution Day

Happy Constitution Day everyone.

The importance of this day surpasses almost any other. It is certainly more important that most of the most popular holidays.

I want all the parents out there to talk to you children tonight (or any night if you are reading this after today) about our Constitution. Not just in The United States. It is the duty of every citizen of every country that has a constitution to learn its history structure and content. Constitutions are the framework of government and help decide many of the most important issues of our lives.

Most constitutions, no matter how imperfect, ensure domestic tranquility. When they are followed the security of the nation and its people are upheld. Failure of a government to follow its own laws is one of the biggest problems of our day. It damages the citizenry’s respect for the law and de-legitimizes the government every time it happens.

I encourage everyone who reads this blog to read and have your children read not only the United States Constitution, but also a collection of letters called the Federalist Papers. The Federalist Papers were written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton to explain the new constitution and encourage its ratification by the several states. Most who complain about the clarity of our constitution are either deliberately acting in a disingenuous manner or are simply ignorant of the proper material. Beyond the obvious clarity of the United States Constitution, this collection of letters explains intent and historical context for almost every constitutional question. The Federalist Papers (Dover Thrift Editions)

Today I want everyone to be mindful and thankful for the genius and elegance that went in to the document. The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution for example protects what has been called the “laboratory of states”. Any power not specifically given to the Federal Government in the United States is left up to the States. They can exercise that authority or stay out of an issue completely. This has created great innovation because our citizens can vote with their feet. This means that local governments know that if they do not fully ensure the liberty of their citizens and stay out of the way of their prosperity they can leave and move to a more free area if they wish.
I also want to remind our readers of the difference between the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Many people think the Constitution is a list of twenty or so amendments. That is not so. The entire constitution lays out the structure and function of each branch of government and it does so beautifully. Many more people memorize the preamble at some point in their lives then never look at the body of the document.

Further Study on Constitutions:

the 5000 year leap

Essays in Anglo-Saxon Law

The Athenian Constitution (Penguin Classics)

15 Documents and Speeches That Built America (Unique Classics) (Declaration of Independence, US Constitution and Amendments, Articles of Confederation, Magna Carta, Gettysburg Address, Four Freedoms)

Happy Constitution Day and happy reading.