New Common Sense: 10 Steps to Save the Constitution

 

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New Common Sense Applying First Principles to the Issues of Today At Heritage The Preserve the Constitution Series: Six state attorneys general discuss federalism in the age of unprecedented government expansion. American Statesman: The enduring relevance of George Washington. Around the Country What so proudly we hail: Law, order, and why you'll never dread jury duty again. Conceived in Liberty: How William Livingston gave the American Revolution its rationale. Quick Thoughts Who killed the liberal arts? And why we should care. Did Castro Channel Marco Rubio and the American Dream? From the Bookshelf: In I Am the Change: Barack Obama and the Crisis of Liberalism, Charles Kesler explains that Barack Obama is either a new birth of liberalism—or the last liberal President.   10 Steps to Save the Constitution It often gets lost in the crush of back-to-school and the solemnity of September 11, but Constitution Day is next Monday, September 17. That will mark the 225th anniversary of our nation’s founding charter. Much like the document itself, Constitution Day doesn’t get the fanfare it deserves. But let’s not allow the day to go unobserved this year. Here are 10 steps you can take to save the Constitution: Read it. The Constitution is just a few pages long, well-organized and clearly written. Explore the meaning of each clause with the  line-by-line analysis available at Constitutiononline.com. Pass out  pocket Constitutions. For your tech savvy friends, Constitutiononline.com looks great an mobile device. Ensure that your family understands the Constitution. Read the Constitution together as a family. Check out Teaching American History's interactive Constitutional Convention website. Add Constitution Quest to the family game night rotation. Or watch a movie about the Founding era. 1776 is a family-friendly choice, while the HBO miniseries, John Adams, is a more sophisticated portrayal of the Founding era. Start a Constitution study group. ConstitutionFacts.com offers both a simple and an advanced quiz. Failed the quiz? Enroll now for the Hillsdale College’s Constitution 101 and 201. Or learn the Constitution at your own pace with The Heritage Guide to the Constitution: Teaching Companion. It explains every clause, summarizes each essay in the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, plus includes exercises and quizzes to test your comprehension. Learn about the Framers. Heritage’s Founders' Almanac has short bios and quotes some of the key Founders. Guess who was President of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia? (Hint: he remains the consummate constitutional President, and his  defense of religious liberty still guides us today.) Find your soulmate with the “which Founder would you marry?” quiz. Discover the ideas behind the Constitution. Learn about America’s 10 foundational principles and what needs to be done to get America back on course with the bestseller, We Still Hold These Truths. Share what you know about the Constitution. Post a blog on the true meaning of the Commerce Clause. Show some love for the Tenth Amendment on Twitter. Like the Legislative Vesting Clause on Facebook. Social media isn’t the only avenue. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the importance of the Constitution. Donate copies of We Still Hold These Truths and The Heritage Guide to the Constitution to your local library and school. Spread the word in your local community. Why should Independence Day have a monopoly on patriotic cookouts? Start a new tradition and host a Constitution Day party for your friends and neighbors. It beats a food stamps party, hands down. You could even end the night by singing patriotic songs. Arm yourself with facts on key issues. Make use of Heritage resources to stay informed on the critical issues facing America: from foreign policy and the welfare state to health care and the rule of law. Shore up the American Dream. Our Constitution makes the American Dream possible. Save the Dream and fight for economic freedom by resisting the vast expanse (and expense) of the bureaucratic state. Commit to a constitutional agenda. America is at a turning point: Either our leaders will guide the country even further along the road to “progressivism” or they will begin a long, slow turn back toward the principles of the American Founding.  Changing America’s Course is Heritage's advice for how our political leaders can restore constitutional government. Happy Constitution Day!                        Forward this message to a Friend!   Quote of the Week                            Join The Heritage Foundation and Dr. Matthew Spalding Sept. 14-16 in Washington, DC at Values Voters Summit. Register online today. The happy union of these states is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of liberty throughout the world.  ~ James Madison For more quotes, visit westillholdthesetruths.org About The Heritage Foundation Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute -- a think tank -- whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 | 202.546.4400