February 14th, 2008
The Pennsylvania Constitution Party earlier decided to bring a new federal lawsuit against certain Pennsylvania election laws. Since then, the Pennsylvania Green Party and the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party have decided to join the lawsuit.
The lawsuit is likely to challenge four Pennsylvania laws or practices: (1) Pennsylvania’s unique system of forcing candidates whose petitions are successfully challenged, to pay for the costs of determining that the petition was insufficient; (2) the practice of many Pennsylvania counties of failing to count any write-in votes, even though under state law all write-ins are valid; (3) Pennsylvania’s failure to tally registrations for parties that are not qualified parties but which do place nominees on the November ballot; (4) the wording on the petition that says the signers are “nominating” the listed candidates.
The basis for point (1) is that the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that states cannot force voters, parties, and candidates to pay for the costs of administering elections. The basis for point (3) is a string of favorable precedents on the same issue from courts in Colorado, Oklahoma, New Jersey, New York and Iowa. The basis for point (4) is a string of favorable precedents from federal courts in Kentucky, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia, striking down restrictive wording on petitions for minor parties or their candidates
www.ballot-access.org
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Becoming Familiar with the Constitution
It is becoming quite apparent to many American that most people know very little about the Constitution and the form of government our Founders gave us. This is evident by the fact that the Constitution is seldom referred to in any political debate. It is also evident by the increasing number of requests NCCS is getting to hold seminars on the Constitution in areas all over the country. Of course, this is very mission of The National Center for Constitutional Studies--to educate Americans about the exciting message of the Founders and why their formula for freedom and liberty would solve nearly every problem in America today.
Americans must become conversant with the Constitution. We should be able to teach from the Constitution. We should be able to ask candidates for public office questions from a constitutional perspective. So, as a start, and with a copy of the Constitution in hand, could you answer the questions below? References to where the answers are found are given in parenthesis, (article, section, clause). Each one of these questions can be directly related to an issue currently being discussed in campaign circles and debates. A good family activity might be to see if you can identify a current issue that directly relates to the references in the Constitution. Perhaps you should underline these answers so as to be as prepared in these matters as the Apostle Peter encouraged the saints to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15) These questions and answers are based, of course, on the original intent of the Founders and not on current judicial decrees. Here are some questions:
Laws can only become effective on the people by what means? (I.1.1)
How are states rights protected in the federal government? (I.3.1)
How does the Constitution keep the legislative independent of the executive? (I.6.2)
Where must all money bills originate? (I.7.1)
Congress has the power to do about how many things? (I.8)
What is the first use of tax money mandated by the Constitution? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution limit Congress to spend tax money on things that benefit the nation as a whole and not for individuals or special groups? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid a system of graduated taxes? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid giving power over U. S. commerce to foreign governments? (I.8.3)
To whom did the people give authority to establish rules for immigration and naturalization? (I.8.4)
How did the people give only Congress, and no others, the right to manage our money system? (I.8.5)
How does the Constitution prohibit any treaty giving authority to other countries over the high seas? (I.8.10)
How does the Constitution prohibit the United States being under the jurisdiction of the United Nations? (I.8.10)
To whom did the people give the exclusive power to declare war? (I.8.11)
How does the Constitution protect the people against a standing army? (I.8.12)
How does the Constitution prohibit our armed forces to ever be under the jurisdiction or control of other nations? (I.8.14)
What are the three constitutional reasons for which the militia of the states may be called into active duty? Who has authority to call them up to active duty? (I.8.15)
Under what conditions does the Constitution allow the federal government to own land within a state? (I.8.17)
How does the Constitution prohibit the "necessary and proper clause", sometimes called the "elastic clause", from being used to give additional power to Congress? (I.8.18)
Does the original Constitution prohibit an income tax? (I.9.4)
What does the Constitution say the states must use to pay their debts? (I.10.1)
Does the Constitution say anything about governmental authority to suspend or modify mortgage payments? (I.10.1)
What does the Constitution require of all executive agreement or treaties made by the president? (II.2.2)
What are the only areas of constitutional authority of the president? (II.2-II-3)
Is the power of "judicial review" given to the judiciary in the Constitution? (III.2)
How many kinds of cases are assigned to the federal courts? (III.2.1)
What is the only crime defined in the Constitution? (III.3.1)
Does the Constitution give power to the federal government to protect certain rights of citizens within states? (IV.4)
How does the Constitution prohibit qualifying a candidate for public office based on his religious beliefs? (VI.3)
Where does it say that the Bill of Rights prohibitions only apply to the federal government? (1 st Amendment)
How does the constitution prohibit gun control by the federal government? (2 nd Amendment)
Does the constitution specifically say all power not enumerated as belonging to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people? (10th Amendment)
The National Center for Constitutional Studies is embarking on a bold program to encourage all Americans to read the United States Constitution between now and Election Day in November. You can help! For a limited time, NCCS is making available to individuals and organizations 100 copies of our beautiful pocket Constitution for only $30.00. This includes handling and shipping. All other quantity prices will remain the same. Click here to order your today.
As an example of what might be done, NCCS recently visited a university campus where we handed out over 7,000 copies of the pocket Constitution to students who signed a pledge to read it this year. It was a great and successful experience--one that should be repeated on every college campus in this land.
We invite you to use your creative mind in helping to "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10 and on the Liberty Bell)
Sincerely,
Earl Taylor, Jr.
www.nccs.net
Americans must become conversant with the Constitution. We should be able to teach from the Constitution. We should be able to ask candidates for public office questions from a constitutional perspective. So, as a start, and with a copy of the Constitution in hand, could you answer the questions below? References to where the answers are found are given in parenthesis, (article, section, clause). Each one of these questions can be directly related to an issue currently being discussed in campaign circles and debates. A good family activity might be to see if you can identify a current issue that directly relates to the references in the Constitution. Perhaps you should underline these answers so as to be as prepared in these matters as the Apostle Peter encouraged the saints to "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15) These questions and answers are based, of course, on the original intent of the Founders and not on current judicial decrees. Here are some questions:
Laws can only become effective on the people by what means? (I.1.1)
How are states rights protected in the federal government? (I.3.1)
How does the Constitution keep the legislative independent of the executive? (I.6.2)
Where must all money bills originate? (I.7.1)
Congress has the power to do about how many things? (I.8)
What is the first use of tax money mandated by the Constitution? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution limit Congress to spend tax money on things that benefit the nation as a whole and not for individuals or special groups? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid a system of graduated taxes? (I.8.1)
How does the Constitution forbid giving power over U. S. commerce to foreign governments? (I.8.3)
To whom did the people give authority to establish rules for immigration and naturalization? (I.8.4)
How did the people give only Congress, and no others, the right to manage our money system? (I.8.5)
How does the Constitution prohibit any treaty giving authority to other countries over the high seas? (I.8.10)
How does the Constitution prohibit the United States being under the jurisdiction of the United Nations? (I.8.10)
To whom did the people give the exclusive power to declare war? (I.8.11)
How does the Constitution protect the people against a standing army? (I.8.12)
How does the Constitution prohibit our armed forces to ever be under the jurisdiction or control of other nations? (I.8.14)
What are the three constitutional reasons for which the militia of the states may be called into active duty? Who has authority to call them up to active duty? (I.8.15)
Under what conditions does the Constitution allow the federal government to own land within a state? (I.8.17)
How does the Constitution prohibit the "necessary and proper clause", sometimes called the "elastic clause", from being used to give additional power to Congress? (I.8.18)
Does the original Constitution prohibit an income tax? (I.9.4)
What does the Constitution say the states must use to pay their debts? (I.10.1)
Does the Constitution say anything about governmental authority to suspend or modify mortgage payments? (I.10.1)
What does the Constitution require of all executive agreement or treaties made by the president? (II.2.2)
What are the only areas of constitutional authority of the president? (II.2-II-3)
Is the power of "judicial review" given to the judiciary in the Constitution? (III.2)
How many kinds of cases are assigned to the federal courts? (III.2.1)
What is the only crime defined in the Constitution? (III.3.1)
Does the Constitution give power to the federal government to protect certain rights of citizens within states? (IV.4)
How does the Constitution prohibit qualifying a candidate for public office based on his religious beliefs? (VI.3)
Where does it say that the Bill of Rights prohibitions only apply to the federal government? (1 st Amendment)
How does the constitution prohibit gun control by the federal government? (2 nd Amendment)
Does the constitution specifically say all power not enumerated as belonging to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people? (10th Amendment)
The National Center for Constitutional Studies is embarking on a bold program to encourage all Americans to read the United States Constitution between now and Election Day in November. You can help! For a limited time, NCCS is making available to individuals and organizations 100 copies of our beautiful pocket Constitution for only $30.00. This includes handling and shipping. All other quantity prices will remain the same. Click here to order your today.
As an example of what might be done, NCCS recently visited a university campus where we handed out over 7,000 copies of the pocket Constitution to students who signed a pledge to read it this year. It was a great and successful experience--one that should be repeated on every college campus in this land.
We invite you to use your creative mind in helping to "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Leviticus 25:10 and on the Liberty Bell)
Sincerely,
Earl Taylor, Jr.
www.nccs.net
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