A friendly Reminder

Do you really own your land, or are you merely permitted to use it under government rules? While property ownership is central to the American Dream, growing taxes, zoning laws, and regulations increasingly limit how owners may use their land. Using a local government effort to ban RVs as permanent housing, this article examines property rights, liberty, and due process—and asks whether ownership without control is ownership at all.

by Paul Engel   Summary Memorial Day started as Decoration Day when cities and towns began decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers each spring. Many Americans will enjoy parades and cookouts, but is that all this day has become? How will you honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country? Memorial day is the day the American people set aside to honor those who gave their lives fighting for us. Whether you plan to go to a parade, place flowers on a

At the Institute on the Constitution, we believe that safeguarding our future begins with understanding and reinforcing our foundations. That’s why we’ve created Throwback Truths — a series that revisits classic video presentations from Michael Anthony Peroutka, founder of IOTC. These timeless messages encourage us to reflect on who we are as a nation and the principles that define true liberty. In this edition, we revisit Peroutka’s bold response to proposed “hate crime” leg

Does your state have a “duty to inform” law? Many point to a violation of the Second Amendment. Did you realize these laws violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendments as well? As a lifelong gun owner, I understand the awesome responsibility of owning a weapon. After getting my concealed carry license many years ago, I came to understand the great responsibility of having a deadly weapon on my person. Now, as a constitutional scholar, I’ve come to realize just how badly states are

What is the proper remedy to past discrimination? Is it present discrimination, as Ibriam Kendi says? Or is reverse discrimination just as evil as the discrimination it claims to remedy? Ibriam Kendi is often quoted as saying “The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination.” Is that true? Above the main entrance to the Supreme Court is a promise chiseled into the marble façade: “equal justice under law”. How can we have equal justice under law if one side is

Whose safety matters more, law enforcement of civilians? Does being legally armed automatically make you a danger to society? Should officer safety override the Constitution of the United States? Imagine you are stopped by law enforcement. Maybe you were doing something wrong, maybe not. At this point, when you are in the custody of law enforcement, whose safety matters more: Yours or that of the officer? In the 2017 Fourth Circuit case United States v. Robinson, while not sp

Why does the Supreme Court go gaga just about every time abortion comes before them.  Coalition Life sued the city of Carbondale, Illinois, claiming a the city violated their rights protected by the First Amendment. This time, the Supreme Court wouldn’t even take the case. Free speech jurisprudence has rested on shaky ground for decades in this country. Looking back at cases like Hill v. Colorado, Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s H

Balancing faith and freedom has played a significant role throughout the history of the United States. As we delve into the past, we find a complex relationship between religious beliefs and the quest for liberty. This delicate balance has been central to American constitutional history, impacting how rights and freedoms are understood today. From the early days of the new republic, faith influenced pivotal decisions and shaped the nation's core values. Historical perspective

The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures. This includes the unreasonable use of force by law enforcement. Shouldn’t law enforcement be as responsible for their actions as any other citizen? Most of us are aware of the Fourth Amendment’s Unreasonable Search and Seizure Clause. While definitions of what is “reasonable” have been argued since the Bill of Rights was ratified, it is pretty much agreed that the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against

Most people know that the Fourth Amendment protects our right to not be unreasonable searched or seized. But what makes a search reasonable? In the legal profession, reasonable searches in traffic stops are based on the case Pennsylvania v. Mimms. I doubt it would surprise you that I watch a fair amount of videos that involve interactions with the police. One question that comes up is when is an officers attempt to search or detain someone reasonable? One of the cases attorne

When do you get your constitutionally protected rights? Does the Second Amendment apply to 18-20 year olds? Is it constitutional for Congress to allow 18-20 year olds to own handguns, but not purchase them? There are certain things in life with a minimum age limit like driving, drinking alcohol, and even voting, but is there a minimum age limit for your constitutionally protected rights? That was the question Caleb Reese and others wanted asked, when they filed a lawsuit agai

When police damage your home, who should pay? Police officers of the City of McKinney, TX damaged the home of Vicki Baker while apprehending a fleeing felon. Neither her homeowner’s insurance or the city would pay for the damages, so she sued. When the government, in the form of the police, damages your property, who pays for it? In the case of Vicki Baker v. City of McKinney, TX the police had to damage her property to apprehend a fleeing felon. However, when the city refuse

Is so-called “gender affirming care” safe for minors? Do the states have a duty to protect minors from such care, even if the parents and doctors approve? Do transgender prohibitions violate the Equal Protection Clause? The transgender agenda has been moving fast the last few years. That said, several states have moved to slow their progress, especially among our young people. One state, Tennessee, is being sued by the federal government. Oral arguments were heard by the Supr

Do American medical boards extort doctors to tow the party line? Did American medical boards collude with the federal government to keep medical information away from the American people? And people wonder why trust in these institutions has fallen? There were plenty of infringement on people’s rights during the COVID scamdemic, and censorship was rampant. Not only did we have members of our own government colluding to censor information they didn’t like, but we’ve had profes

What happens when people use the judicial system not to redress a grievance, but to attack others? Does a person have standing to sue, even thou they suffered no harmed? What are the costs to others when people engage in such “law fare”? One of the most common ways for an American to seek a redress for some grievance is to file a law suit. This has made the United States a very litigious society. I was not able to determine the number of lawsuits filed, but in 2023 there were

Memorial Day is about honoring the memories of those who died in the service of this nation. Of all the statues, memorials, and holidays, the greatest place to honor those who have fallen is in the hearts of the American people. Do We the People honor the memories of those who gave the last full measure of devotion to preserve the Constitution, liberty, and justice for all of us. MEMO’RIAL , noun That which preserves the memory of something; any thing that serves to keep in m

Under what circumstances can a government actor legally search cellphone location data? What are the requirements for a legitimate geofence warrant. Can this case out of California help turn the tide in our dissent into tyranny? Most of us are aware that generally law enforcement needs to get a warrant before searching our property. Recent advances in technology, however, have made the distinctions for the necessity of a warrant more and more difficult. For example, can law e

Once again, the American people may be succumbing to fear and letting the federal government pass legislation that will be used to restrict our rights. In an attempt to regulate the activities of TikTok and their alleged espionage, Congress is debating the RESTRICT Act. But would it do what Congress is claiming? Are we witnessing the repeat of the PATRIOT Act? There has been plenty of talk lately about TikTok, its connection to the Chinese Communist Party, and what American p

When should a minor’s wishes supersede their parent’s? Should the courts be deciding when and if the parents of a minor child are notified of their attempts to receive an abortion? The case of Doe v Chapman deals primarily with the actions of one of the employees of the court, there is plenty of discussion of the fundamental question of parental rights vs children's. When should a parent be denied the right to know about medical procedures performed on their children? Most of

When does legislation become a Bill of Rights? A bill in the North Carolina legislature claims to create a Parents’ Bill of Rights. But does it? Are there dangers in calling legislation a Bill of Rights? I’m loath to use the term “Bill of Rights” lightly, for two very good reasons. First, the overuse of any term tends to diminish its value. Second, just because something claims to be a “Bill of Rights” doesn’t mean it actually is one. The bill may be very good, but that doesn