“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.” ―
“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” ―
Saturday September 17 is Constitution Day. This annual day of observance was made law in 2004 as a revision of Citizenship Day previously observed in May each year. The “act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions, and all federal agencies, provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day.”
I worked as a federal employee for 36 years and do not recall ever having this mandate fulfilled. It was either not done, or was so dull as to be unmemorable. Going further back, I do not recall any review of the Constitution outside of civics class, but then it was not an annual legal mandate.
Fixing That
Recently, I took a class from Patriot Academy entitled Constitution Alive, I was six weeks for an hour, on-line and FREE. I wanted to refresh what little knowledge I retained on our Constitution. It did that, but it also provided a much deeper look into the formation of our nation.
My biggest takeaway from the course was that the United States Constitution was formed as a direct answer to the grievances outlined in our Declaration of Independence. In this succinct document and its twenty-seven amendments are simple but profound principles from which the wisdom to govern this great nation derives.
Three Reasons
- Since in the United States of America, “We the people” are the government, it would be wise for each of us to know and understand these founding documents.
- Yes, we elect representatives at the local, county, parish, state and national levels to speak on our behalf, but “we the people” must ensure they are speaking according to the constitution.
- Government spends our money every day at all levels. Today at unprecedented rates. The responsibility to know how and why funds spent are in accordance to the constitution, is ours.
It is “we the people’s” job to see that our representatives, their staff, and every administrative aspect of government is behaving according to the Constitution. It is our first and primary task as a United States Citizen.
Key Steps
- First register to vote and then vote. Vote in ALL elections, local, state and national.
- Next, research to ensure the issues and candidates running align with our founding documents. Attend forums to hear first hand what the candidates are about. Have THEY read and understood the Constitution? Ask them.
- If at all possible, vote in person and with a paper hand-counted ballot.
- Find a place of involvement. Here are a few suggestions:
- Vote and then serve as a precinct captain, an election worker and/or overseer in the election process
- Attend school board meetings. Run for school board!
- Sit on the advisory board of your local Public Television or Radio stations. Funds come in part from your tax dollars. This requires public input.
- Go to your city and/or county commission meetings and participate. Run for local mayor, city council or county commission office.
- Attend neighborhood meetings, call your city offices with questions on activities.
Notice that most of these involve local participation. That is where you start, with what matters near you. The Constitution governs all levels of our system. Take 30 minutes and read it. Perhaps its time to read it as a family this week.
Do you know if your child’s school is following the law and teaching the US Constitution as required?