James Madison

Understanding the Constitution: How the document was composed 0
- August 26, 2021
In drafting the U.S. Constitution, the framers composed a document unique for its balance and beauty.
READ MORE
Although Chief Justice Roberts’ Dissent in the Arizona Legislature Case Cited My Research, I Actually Agree With the Majority!0
- July 12, 2015
In my last post, I discussed the effect on Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Comm’n. In this post, I explain why the Arizona case was decided correctly. Some people may be surprised that I think the holding was correct. I’m politically
READ MORE
The greatest constitutional document of all 0
- December 15, 2014
This article was first published in The American Thinker. It is said that no second heir to the British throne has been named John because of the reputation of the first. King John (reigned: 1199-1216) could be charming and efficient, but he was ruthless and utterly untrustworthy, and several times he drove his subjects to
READ MORE

Book Review: James Madison: A Life Reconsidered, by Lynn Cheney (Viking, 2014)0
- July 4, 2014
After some truly painful reading experiences, I’ve become skeptical of history books written by celebrities. Lynn Cheney is the wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney and thus our former Second Lady. She certainly counts as a celebrity. I was, therefore, skeptical of her new biography, James Madison: A Life Reconsidered. But she won me
READ MORE
Struggling With Nullification 0
- February 3, 2014
Does a state have the right to nullify federal statutes the state considers unconstitutional? This depends largely on how you define “nullification.” It also depends on what you mean by “right” and what kind of document you understand the Constitution to be. In other words, it depends on your premises. Unfortunately, people often discuss—and debate,
READ MORE
Madison and the Amendments Convention: A New Chapter in a Brand New Book 0
- September 15, 2013
A new book, edited by Professor Neil H. Cogan, has just been issued in which well-known constitutional scholars from across the political spectrum explore issues of state interposition, nullification, and secession. I am among the contributors: I wrote the second chapter, which is entitled James Madison and the Constitution’s Convention for Proposing Amendments. The book
READ MORE

Contribute