“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Everyone’s heard of the Federalist Papers – Hamilton, Madison, Jay – but the most important Federalist speech in the entire ratification debate didn’t come from any of them. It came from James Wilson – a name most people have never even heard...
Most of what they teach about the Bill of Rights completely skips over much of the real history. From the reason the Federalists opposed it, to Madison’s flip-flop, and the totally ignored preamble – on this episode, I’ve got 5 key – and mostly hidden...
The wisest part of the Constitution – James Madison specifically singled out one clause where he said the most wisdom is found. And what a surprise – not only is his view completely ignored today, the clause itself has been twisted into exactly what he...
While names like Madison, Hamilton, and Washington often dominate discussions about the Constitution, many other Founders played vital roles in shaping it. In this episode, we’re uncovering the contributions of ten often-overlooked figures who significantly...
A lot of people believe that before the 17th amendment, state legislatures had the power to recall and replace senators in congress. But that’s nothing more than a myth. Records from the ratification debates show that this power never existed under the Constitution....
When the framers designed the Senate, they envisioned it as a safeguard for the states, with a key component being state legislatures choosing two senators instead of the people at large. But in 1913, the 17th Amendment removed this critical part of the system. In...