American Thinker

Summary

The article examines constitutional governance as a framework designed to secure freedom through strict limitations on government power. It contrasts the Founders’ intent—where officials were meant to restrain themselves and others—with modern Progressive interpretations that often distort constitutional principles. The piece outlines specific constitutional requirements for officials, emphasizing minimal rhetoric and concrete actions like oath-taking, journal-keeping, and budget oversight. It concludes with actionable steps citizens can take to enforce constitutional limits, including electoral accountability and direct engagement with representatives.

What This Means for You

• Hold Officials Accountable: Demand adherence to constitutional processes (e.g., single appropriation budgets, repeal of unconstitutional statutes).
• Electoral Action: Vote exclusively for candidates committed to constitutionalist principles, not party loyalty.
• State-Level Advocacy: Urge state officials to nullify federal overreach using existing legal mechanisms.
• Future Outlook: Without systemic enforcement by citizens, constitutional safeguards risk further erosion.

Original Post

Politics is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Constitutional government, though, is designed to be full of sound and fury, securing freedom. Officials are to promote the general welfare by severely limiting themselves and other officials.

At the time the proposed Constitution was up for ratification, the American people had for a long time lived singularly free and had grown considerably more prosperous than the English people. The Americans were determined to keep this good thing going by continuing to severely limit governments. And unless people supported the proposed Constitution, their representatives wouldn’t ratify it.

To gain people’s support, the Federalists of the constitutional convention had already proposed to separate and offset powers. Each separated part of the government created using the Constitution would be given strong power and the duty to severely limit itself and others. Each power’s tasks would be simple and intuitive.

But even that explicit limiting wasn’t enough to satisfy the people. Representing the people’s rational distrust of governments, the so-called Anti-Federalists pushed the Federalists of the ratifying conventions also to make a gentlemen’s agreement to draft and ratify a bill of rights that would explicitly provide added protections.

Most of the talk and actions nowadays are Progressives’ distortions or fabrications. Very little of the talk and actions are what the Constitution requires. Even though we know this intuitively, it’s eye-opening to see what talk and actions the Constitution requires laid out in black and white.

Summarized below is a substantial fraction of the talk and actions that the Constitution requires. Notice that the Constitution requires very little talk but lots of simple actions.

Constitutional Requirements for Officials

• Officials swear oaths to support/protect the Constitution.
• Congress maintains journals, meets annually, and admits new states.
• Presidents execute laws, command militias, and publish financial statements.
• Judges opine only on specific cases, not broad policy.

Enforcement Priorities for Citizens

• Demand state-level nullification of federal overreach.
• Insist Congress defund unconstitutional programs.
• Vote out Progressive incumbents regardless of party.

Extra Information

• Interactive Constitution – Explore clause-by-clause analysis of constitutional text.
• Heritage Guide to the Constitution – Expert commentary on original intent.

People Also Ask About

• How can states resist federal overreach? Through statutes criminalizing specific unconstitutional federal actions.
• What’s the constitutional role of vice presidents? To preside over the Senate, not serve as policy advisors.
• Can Congress reduce its own power? Yes, by repealing broad delegations of authority to agencies.
• Why are single appropriations critical? They force prioritization and limit bureaucratic sprawl.

Expert Opinion

“The Constitution’s structural limits—separated powers, federalism, enumerated authorities—were designed as friction points to slow government expansion. Their erosion reflects not legal inevitability but decades of civic disengagement. Restoration requires citizens to weaponize electoral and procedural tools the Framers embedded.”

Key Terms

• Constitutional originalism vs Progressive interpretation
• State nullification of federal overreach
• Single appropriation budget enforcement
• Electoral accountability for constitutionalists
• Separation of powers in modern governance