MADASHECC | Conservative Constitutionalists

Article of the Day

From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 3

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXV (1967)

Section 1 In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President. Section 2 Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment III (1791)

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 7

All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other Bills. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article II | Section 2

The President shall be leader (Commander in Chief) of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXVI (1971)

Section 1 The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age. Section 2 The …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article II | Section 4

The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XVIII (1919)

Section 1 After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XVII (1913)

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 6

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 2

The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XII (1804)

The electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XIX (1920)

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article IV | Section 2

The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment I (1791)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article IV | Section 4

The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXI (1933)

Section 1 The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. Section 2 The transportation or importation into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XIII (1865)

Section 1 Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2 Congress shall have power …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment IV (1791)

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment X (1791)

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.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 1

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment VI (1791)

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article VII

The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same. Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present the seventeenth day of September …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article IV | Section 1

Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXVII (1992)

No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives shall take effect until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment V (1791)

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XX (1933)

Section 1 The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment VII (1791)

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 5

Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a simple majority to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 9

The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article VI

All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXIV (1964)

Section 1 The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment VIII (1791)

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment IX (1791)

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Preamble

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XV (1870)

Section 1 The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Section 2 The Congress …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXII (1951)

Section 1 No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 10

No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 8

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article IV | Section 3

New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XXIII (1961)

Section 1 The District constituting the seat of government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article II | Section 1

The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XVI (1913)

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census of enumeration.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XI (1798)

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article II | Section 3

He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment XIV (1868)

Section 1 All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article I | Section 4

The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the …
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Amendment II (1791)

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Read More
From the U.S. Constitution

Article III | Section 1, Section 2, Section 3

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior …
Read More

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

- This requires that each of the states has two senators in the Senate, there will be a new election for one-third of the Senate every 2 years, describes the age, residency and citizenship rules to become a Senator. The ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Established procedures to follow in the case of presidential death and/or disability. States for the first time in the Constitution that the Vice President, when taking over the office of President after a vacancy occurs, has all of the powers ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

A soldier cannot take over your home for any reason, without your consent.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

All bills for raising revenue (and the paychecks for members of Congress) shall originate in the House of Representatives, any bill passed in the two houses will go to the president and pending approval become a law. If the president ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Not much in here to translate, really. This spells out the power of the Presidency. Note: a militia was then and is still now referred to as a citizen’s army of the states. (Today’s National Guard, for instance) Note also ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | 16 Comments

By Mad Mike

If you’re 18, you can vote. Personally, I think the legal voting age should be raised to 30…but who am I to say?

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Any questions?

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Prohibition – the manufacture, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited. Sad times. Sad, sad times.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By mad Mike

Election of Senators was granted to the people of each of the states.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

States that each senator and representative will receive compensation for services to their country to be paid out by the U.S. treasury. They will also be immune from arrest, except for treason, felony, and breach of the peace, during an ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | 2 Comments

By Mad Mike

The H of R shall be chosen every second year by the people of the states, and those elected shall have the qualifications that are deemed required by the largest branch of that particular state’s legislature. No tax or duty ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Electors will vote for President and Vice President on separate ballots.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

The right to vote cannot be denied because of a person’s sex

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

In the nutshell, this lays out extradition laws. Extradition is the process by which a person is transported to the original state of the committed crime to be tried in that state for that crime.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Self explanatory. To petition the government for redress of grievances means that we can ask the government to fix something we feel is broken.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

This still holds some merit, but back in the days when this was written, most of the states had their own militia, and that militia was called upon to protect the state from invasion.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Repealed the 18th Amendment. The Prohibition Era in America was over. Happy times return.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Involuntary servitude – slavery – was abolished, unless it was the result of a sentence passed by a court of law upon conviction of a crime.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

People and their personal property cannot be searched without a warrant, issued by a judge.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Powers that are not specifically granted to the national government are to be retained by the states and people.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

All powers granted to the legislature (those who make, amend, and repeal laws) will exist in a Congress of the U.S. that consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

A person accused of a crime has the right to a fair and speedy trial by an impartial jury of his peers, to be informed of the accusations against him/her, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to be ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

I remember learning about the Full Faith and Credit Clause in college. It actually was interpreted different ways pre and post ratification. The general idea of it, however, is that each state respects the laws of the other states.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Congress may pass a law increasing their salaries, but cannot collect it until after he or she has been through a federal election.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

The fifth amendment lays out your rights to a trial. To be convicted of a crime, you have to be indicted and tried of it, first. Secondly, you cannot be retried if found innocent of that crime. This is what ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Shortened the period of time between federal elections (first week of November in even numbered years) and the day that officials were sworn into office. Called the “Lame Duck Amendment” because it gave “lame duck” officials (those who were not ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

In any legal case involving a civil suit (lawsuit between two persons or groups), the defendant has the right to a trial by jury if the amount in question is over twenty dollars.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Each house will be the judge of their own elections and qualifications of it members. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, and punish it’s members for disorderly behavior. Both houses of Congress must keep a journal of ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Congress cannot: 1. Prohibit the immigration of a person to the U.S. but can charge them money. 2. Ban the process of habeas corpus (A writ to bring a person before a court or a judge, most frequently used to ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

This article lies out two basic things. One is that our debt is just that. Our debt. The second is that a state can’t pass into law something that was already federally made illegal. For instance, Nevada couldn’t start a ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

People can not be denied the right to vote in federal elections – either primaries or general elections – because they had not paid a tax on voting. (Before this amendment, poor people, and most particularly ethnic and racial minorities, ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Nothing further needs to be added, does it?

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

No one shall be denied their basic constitutional rights.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

I can’t see that this needs any interpretation. It’s pretty plain with maybe only one word needing a definition. Posterity: Descendants: All of the offspring of a given progenitor; “we must secure the benefits of freedom for ourselves and our ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Black males were guaranteed the right to vote, and “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” could not be used as a reason to refuse anyone the right to vote.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

President of the U.S. now limited to serving no more than two terms in office, and no more than a total of ten years (in the case where a Vice President moves into the presidency as the result of a ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

No state shall enter treaties with any foreign nation, issue their own money, or grant any title of nobility. No state can lay duties on imports or exports without the consent of Congress. No state can raise and maintain a ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Congress can: 1. Collects taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay debts and proved defense. 2. Borrow money on the credit of the United States. 3. Regulate commerce with foreign nations. 4. Make laws regarding neutralization and bankruptcies. 5. Coin ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Basically states that a new state can be formed, but not from within another unwilling state.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

People who live in Washington, D.C. are allowed to vote for President and granted three electoral votes, the minimum number of Electoral College ballots. (Before this amendment, residents of the District of Columbia were prohibited from voting for President).

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Fairly self explanatory. This lays out the terms of the President of the United States and everyone else in the Executive Branch. It also explains how the Electoral College was formed. This also states that the President shall be born ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | 2 Comments

By Mad Mike

In the nutshell, again, this is how the Constitution can be changed. It requires a two-thirds vote from both parties of Congress, or by two thirds of the states. See the end of this document for 27 examples of this ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Allows the Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on Census results. This amendment exempted income taxes from the constitutional requirements regarding direct taxes, after income taxes on rents, dividends, and interest ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

A citizen from one state cannot sue a citizen in another state in federal court.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Again, very self explanatory, but for those that missed it, this states the President’s requirement to give what we now call the “State of the Union” Address. It also spells out that military officers are commissioned by the President.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

This is the basic guarantee of civil rights for all Americans. It defined “citizenship” as anyone born or naturalized in the U.S. (this automatically granted citizenship rights to former slaves). States were prohibited from enforcing any law that took away ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Section 4 says the method used to choose U.S. Senators and Representatives is up to the states.

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

Probably how I’d write it: It is left to the people to maintain a militia, regulated by the Congress (per Article 1, Section 8), which may become necessary to ensure security and freedom from a tyrannical government. And to ensure ...

Interpretation

Comment Now | No Comments

By Mad Mike

The third Article goes into detail about the Judicial Branch of Government. Lays out that the Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. Judges and Justices will get lifetime appointments as long as they remain in “good behaviour”. ...

Last Night’s Huck Forum of Undecideds

In case you missed it, here are the complete videos of last night’s Huck forum of undecided voters in South Carolina.

Join the forum discussion on this post View Videos Archives

Mad Jen makes an official plea for you to watch this movie: 180 Movie

Folks, there are few times in my life when I feel compelled to beg people to do anything. I’m somewhat of a “live and let live” kinda girl and I don’t usually wish to push my point of view on anyone. But this is important, of extreme importance. And I can’t help but beg each and every one of you to spend 33 minutes watching this video, the 33 most important minutes you’ll spend all day, and possibly of your life.

Join the forum discussion on this post

Featured Photos & Articles

600 300 100 50 true true false true

Today on Jerry Springer Newt and Mitt fight it out!

As seen from the last debate, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are trying very hard to out sleaze each other. Read More
Does the Tea Party REALLY Want Newt Gingrich?

After Saturday’s vote in South Carolina, one thing has become glaringly clear about the Tea Party in this election cycle:

They have no clue what the hell they want. Read More
Join the forum discussion on this post
Time to Get Personal About Abortion

There is a big reason why I support Rick Santorum and that is his passionate crusade for the unborn. I have never agreed to abortion, but my views on just how “pro-life” I was have evolved. This is a story about how I came to be as passionate about life as Rick.

Read More
Join the forum discussion on this post
My thoughts on Gingrich and SC

There is some discouragement in some Santorum supporters due to Gingrich’s win and subsequent ship jumpers who were not dedicated enough to stand with their candidate through thick and thin. I myself have become frustrated at people’s lack of conviction where their values are concerned. I actually read somewhere on facebook a post that exclaimed in anger, people’s willingness to put their principles over the good of the country. In other words, your principles are not as important as getting Obama out of office. People voting based on principles instead of reality will destroy the country. Read More
Join the forum discussion on this post

Read News Archives