Author: Rob Natelson

Rob Natelson is the Independence Institute’s Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence and heads the Institute’s Article V Information Center. He was a law professor for 25 years, serving at three different universities. Among other subjects, he taught Constitutional Law, Constitutional History, Advanced Constitutional Law, and First Amendment. He is also the Senior Fellow in Constitutional Jurisprudence at the Montana Policy Institute. Rob is especially known for his studies of the Constitution’s original meaning. His research has carried him to libraries throughout the United States and in Britain, including four months at Oxford. The results have included several break-though discoveries. Click here for more information about Rob

‘Progressive’ income tax scheme threatens Colorado

Progressive income taxes don’t hurt the rich. They are penalties on upward mobility and hope that hurt everyone but the rich.

President Trump, the Constitution, and the National Guard Cases

Analyzing the law behind recent cases challenging the President’s authority to federalize the National Guard.

Surrounded by Leftist Propaganda: Proving Media Bias Over Time

During the 2021-2025 timespan, American newspaper writers used the political insult “right wing extremist” seventeen times more often than “left-wing extremist.”

Ancient Rome and the Constitution

You cannot fully understand the Constitution without knowing how the Founders were affected by the saga of ancient Rome.

RICO the Violent Left

Leftist violence suggests a pattern of criminal planning that extends back many years.

Who Called the Constitutional Convention? The Commonwealth of Virginia

The Virginia legislature, not Congress, called the Constitutional Convention.

To End Polarization, Defeat the Totalitarian Left

The Left seeks to coerce the Right; the Right is not trying to coerce the Left.

Answering the Latest Anti-Originalism Narrative

Originalism is not a new theory; it is very old. And it is not “unique;” it is how we normally interpret documents, and how the Founders expected the Constitution to be interpreted.

Rise in Crime: More Evidence of Colorado’s “Progressive” Squalor

Leftist control causes social deterioration and crime waves—It’s an international trend.

Progressive Privilege: Never Having To Say You’re Sorry

When a Republican Vice President, Dan Quayle, recited an inaccurate spelling of “potato,” the media relentlessly pounded the incident into the minds of the American public. But when a Democrat Vice President, Kamala Harris betrayed her trust, the media were largely uncritical.