A friendly Reminder

At the Institute on the Constitution, we believe that safeguarding our future begins with understanding and reinforcing our foundations. That’s why we’re introducing Throwback Truths — a series that revisits classic video presentations from Michael Anthony Peroutka, founder of IOTC. In these timeless clips, Michael reminds us that a strong cultural foundation is just as essential as the foundation of any building. Without it, our American constitutional structure is at risk o

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

One of the most volatile policy issues of our times relates to a fundamental disagreement as to how a nation should approach entitlements. Entitlement programs now devour the majority of the U.S. federal government’s budget, and as of 2019, the national debt reached $23 trillion dollars and is growing rapidly at an uncontrollable rate. What does Scripture have to say about such allocative decisions and policy? In a pre-political sense (informing policy through what the Bible

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

Theological liberals tend to stereotype conservative Christians as simpletons—ignorant and lacking in intellectual support—people who cling to their beliefs in blind faith. This study, however, suggests quite the opposite is true. Theological liberalism was constructed with and based upon the piecemeal-at-best biblical archaeology of its day. Over the hundred years that have since passed, numerous discoveries have occurred.  The substantial number of archaeological discoverie

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

In the Capitol, the “compassion” and “mercy” of Liberal Theology 1  has been used to foist a myriad of unbiblical concepts that have led to bad policy, one of the most egregious examples being entitlement programs. Here in the Capitol we are all acutely aware that the charts that project runaway national debt and national economic insolvency are not only accurate but disturbingly and frighteningly alarming, to say the least. And we all know that the major contributor to the c

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