State Ratifying Conventions
17th Amendment Myth Busted: There was no Recall Power
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....
17th Amendment: Did it Destroy the Structure of 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...
George Mason vs the Constitution: Top Anti-Federalist Arguments
“A monarchy, or a corrupt tyrannical aristocracy” is what George Mason predicted we’d get. On this episode, learn about his top anti-federalist objections to the Constitution during the ratification debates. This included necessary and proper, standing armies,...
Is the President a King in Disguise? The Anti-Federalist Argument
During the debates over the ratification of the Constitution, Antifederalists repeatedly warned that the President would become like a king – and the worst kind of a king – an elected one. Path to Liberty: July 24, 2024...