Changes

An everyday example are compliments that are actually rude.  For example, suppose Joe is choosing sides for basketball and he picks a player by saying, "I want you to be on my team ... because I want to hog the ball and I want lousy teammates who won't complain."  At first you might be happy you are picked, but before long you'll realize that you were picked by someone who wanted more power for himself.

An everyday example are compliments that are actually rude.  For example, suppose Joe is choosing sides for basketball and he picks a player by saying, "I want you to be on my team ... because I want to hog the ball and I want lousy teammates who won't complain."  At first you might be happy you are picked, but before long you'll realize that you were picked by someone who wanted more power for himself.

Jefferson was not shy about applying a "check and balance" to the courts if he lost.  After all, it was Jefferson who supported the impeachment of U.S. Supreme Court Samuel Chase by the U.S. House of Representatives, and unsuccessfully sought his removal by the U.S. Senate.

Jefferson was not shy about applying a "check and balance" to the courts if he lost.  After all, it was Jefferson who supported the impeachment of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase by the U.S. House of Representatives, and unsuccessfully sought his removal by the U.S. Senate.

== "federalism" ==

== "federalism" ==

===Establishment Clause===

===Establishment Clause===

The [[Establishment Clause]] is the very first clause in the Bill of Rights:  “[[Congress]] shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ....”

The [[Establishment Clause]] is the very first clause in the Bill of Rights:  "[[Congress]] shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion ...."

Nowhere in the Bill of Rights, or anywhere else in the Constitution, is there a requirement for a "wall of separation between church and state."  That quote is from a letter written years after the Constitution and Bill of Rights were ratified, by someone who was not even at the Constitutional Convention:  Thomas Jefferson.  It takes much more to amend the Constitution than for one person to write a letter.

Nowhere in the Bill of Rights, or anywhere else in the Constitution, is there a requirement for a "wall of separation between church and state."  That phrase is from a letter written years after the Constitution and Bill of Rights were ratified, by someone who was not even at the Constitutional Convention:  Thomas Jefferson.  It takes much more to amend the Constitution than for one person to write a letter.

For most of us, the Bible is the source of knowledge and its moral rules are the source of American law.  The Ten Commandments are the best set of specific, formal rules of conduct ever devised.  Our country was founded on its principles, and our legal system is guided by its wisdom.

For most of us, the Bible is the source of knowledge and its moral rules are the source of American law.  The Ten Commandments are the best set of specific, formal rules of conduct ever devised.  Our country was founded on its principles, and our legal system is guided by its wisdom.

“Thou shalt not kill,” the Sixth Commandment, is echoed in numerous laws against killing in America.  Similarly, the other Commandments have inspired countless laws and notions of justice.  

“Thou shalt not kill,” the Sixth Commandment, is echoed in numerous laws against killing in America.  Similarly, the other Commandments have inspired countless laws and notions of justice.  

But in the middle of the 20th century some on the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to limit the influence of Christianity, first applied the Establishment Clause against the States in a decision that upheld what the State was doing.  In that decision, the Court agreed with the State but established a precedent for ruling against States in the future under the Establishment Clause.  Beware of expansions of federal power like that.  It is like a stranger saying, “Open your front door, but don’t worry because I am not coming inside.”

But in the middle of the 20th century some on the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to limit the influence of Christianity, initially applied the Establishment Clause against the States in a decision that upheld what the State was doing.  In that decision, the Court agreed with the State but established a precedent for ruling against States in the future under the Establishment Clause.  Beware of expansions of federal power like that.  It is like a stranger saying, “Open your front door, but don’t worry because I am not coming inside.”

The Supreme Court announced it would apply the Clause against the States, but then appeared reasonable in deferring to the states.  The Supreme Court thereby opened the door but stood outside to make it look friendly.  Only later did it enter and beginning demanding that states end prayer and take down the Ten Commandments.  Sound familiar?  The Supreme Court took the same approach in ''Marbury v. Madison'' - let one side win, but based on a reason that it cause it to lose in the future.

So the Supreme Court first announced it would apply the Establishment Clause against the States, but initially appeared reasonable in deferring to the states.  The Supreme Court thereby opened the door but stood outside to make it look friendly.  Only later did it enter and beginning demanding that States end prayer and take down the Ten Commandments.  Sound familiar?  The Supreme Court took the same approach in ''Marbury v. Madison'' - let one side win, but base it on a reason that enables the Court to expand its power for future cases.

55 years ago, students in public high school in [[New Jersey]] recited the “Our Father” ever morning.  States were then free to do this, and schools were much better because of it.  But in 1962, in ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]'', the Supreme Court applied the Establishment Clause to abolish school prayer.   

55 years ago, students in public high schools in [[New Jersey]] recited the “Our Father” ever morning.  States were free to do this, and schools were much better because of it.  But in 1962, in ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]'', the Supreme Court applied the Establishment Clause to abolish classroom prayer in public schools.  Fortunately, that Court cannot ban prayer by homeschoolers.

President George Washington would not have been pleased by this.  In his Farewell Address, written by Alexander Hamilton, Washington said:<ref>Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser, Sept. 19, 1796.</ref>

President George Washington would not have been pleased by this.  In his Farewell Address, written by Alexander Hamilton, Washington said:<ref>Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser, Sept. 19, 1796.</ref>

Nothing in the First Amendment requires censorship of the Ten Commandments, which neither establishes a religion nor coerces anyone to believe.  Those who oppose the moral message may feign offense, but appeasing the hypersensitive is not a goal of the First Amendment.  Its prohibition on an establishment of religion does not require purging recognition of religion from everything public.  Federal law expressly references God numerous times, as do our coins and officials’ oaths of office.  The United States Supreme Court itself features Moses holding the sacred tablets.

Nothing in the First Amendment requires censorship of the Ten Commandments, which neither establishes a religion nor coerces anyone to believe.  Those who oppose the moral message may feign offense, but appeasing the hypersensitive is not a goal of the First Amendment.  Its prohibition on an establishment of religion does not require purging recognition of religion from everything public.  Federal law expressly references God numerous times, as do our coins and officials’ oaths of office.  The United States Supreme Court itself features Moses holding the sacred tablets.

NOTE: do not confuse the Establishment Clause with the Free Exercise Clause, which follows it in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting the free exercise thereof ....”

 

NOTE: do not confuse the Establishment Clause with the Free Exercise Clause, which follows the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting the free exercise thereof ....”

===Free Speech Clause===

===Free Speech Clause===