1925 Supreme Court Changes to the United States Constitution

In 1913 changes to the United States Constitution were made by the enactment of the 16^th and 17^th amendments.  The 1925 Supreme Court in the Butler Case decision used the newly enacted amendments to justify changes to the United States Constitution. 

The Founding Fathers constitution had checks and balances placed within the governing document that established to limit the power and authority of the Federal government over the lives of the people.  The Founders were fearful that an all powerful Federal government would not be responsive to the people’s rights. 

Historically prior to the U. S. Constitution governmental bodies were not responsive to the rights and freedom of its citizenry.  It was not until the enactment of the U. S. Constitution in 1789 that the rights and freedom of people were to be protected.  The Founding Fathers were aware of the adage that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely. The checks and balances were established in the original Founding Fathers Constitution so that the Federal governments appetite for power could be controlled.

Enactment of the 16^th and 17^th amendments to the constitution negated the checks and balances that were in the original constitution.  The 16^th amendment allowed the Federal government to directly tax each State’s citizens.  The 17^th amendment removed the United States Senators as “sentinels” to protect the rights of their state.  The Senators no longer had to report back to their State do determine what actions needed to be taken in Washington D. C.

U. S. Constitution Turned Upside Down

These amendment modifications allowed the Supreme Court to drastically make changes to the United States Constitution in their Butler Case decision that reversed the documents purpose.  This one decision has turned the constitution upside down.  Whereas the constitution was originally written to protect the rights and freedom of the people, the newly revised constitution, after the Supreme Court decision gave the Federal government unlimited control and authority.

The Founding Fathers constitution limited the powers of the Federal government.  The new constitutional Supreme Court interpretation has reversed the the authority positions of power from the people to the Federal government.  The Federal government is now free unbridled and unrestrained to do whatever.  The people now have limited power to control their Federal government. 

Out-of-Control Federal Government

The States which had originally given the Federal government its powers and authority now found themselves subrogated under the control of an all-powerful Federal government.  In less than a hundred years from this historic 1925 Supreme Court decision the freedom of the people has been greatly curtailed accompanied by a Federal government that has established an unprecedented debt obligation on the people.   The government’s appetite for power must be controlled or America will collapse.

The system without the checks and balances does not provide sufficient motivations for members of congress to curtail the runaway actions of the Federal government.  It is irrelevant which political party the congressional members represent as the system established by the current constitution does not provide motivation to protect the rights and freedom of the people.  The current governmental system rewards congressional members who recklessly  increase benefits for their individual electorate in order to get re-elected. 

The U. S. Senators no longer protect the rights of their State.  The people’s rights and freedom are not being protected by any of the governmental branches.  Governmental control must be returned back to the people.

Repeal the 17^th Amendment

Repealing the 17^th amendment to the constitution will reinstate the authority of the States allowing the State governments to VETO inappropriate Federal actions.  Without restoring VETO authority to the State governments the states will not have the power to stop the unbridled Federal abuses. 

Failure to control the Federal government will lead to national insolvency.  This insolvency will have unparalleled consequences affecting life, freedom and the ability of the people to pursue happiness.  It is imperative that the Federal government be bridled by the people. 

Healing America

Just as changes to the United States Constitution had unknown consequences the process of healing America must be accomplished with great care and deliberation.  The checks and balances established in the original Founding Fathers Constitution must be restored so that the ills facing America can be tackled without creating other problems. 

Inappropriate or untimely modifications to the constitution may produce consequences that produce results that further the loss of rights and freedom of the people.  It is so important to re-establish the United States Senators as “sentinels” for the States and the people prior to addressing other actions to correct problems. 

By restoring the checks and balances of the original Founding Fathers constitution America can begin the healing process.  America can return to its position of greatness.  A free American people allowed to be productive will lead the rest of the world back into freedom and prosperity.

Repeal the 17th Amendment

Repeal the 17th Amendment will reinstate the checks and balances originally set in place by our Founding Fathers in the constitution.  Until the checks and balances are fully reestablished correcting the ills of America will not be possible.

The Founding Fathers

Our Founding Fathers had experienced tyranny by living under the authority of an unjust King.   The Founders were fearful that the government that they were about to establish would take on responsibilities that it had NOT been allocated. 

An all powerful central Federal government would be no different than the government they had fought the Revolutionary War for freedom.  To prevent the newly established government from becoming as over bearing tyrannical as that of the King of England certain checks and balances were established to stop any encroachment of power by the Federal government. 

Established “Checks and Balances”

The Founders established the States with powers along with the authority to control the actions of the Federal government.  The State’s senators were given the power and authority to veto actions of the Federal government as well as the House of Representatives.  The 17^th amendment destroyed the ability of the States to control the government.  It is necessary to repeal the 17^th amendment in order to restore to the State’s their ability to control an over bearing central government.

Wall of Political Protection

Our Founders had established the States as a barrier or wall between the people and that of the central government.  All actions by the Federal government had to first go through the people’s respective State government.  Taxes levied were allocated against the States which in turn determined how those taxes were to be paid by the citizens of each respective state. 

The State’s were able to exercise their veto powers whenever the Federal government over stepped its bounds.  Taxes or regulations placed upon the States that were unjust could be vetoed.  The State Senators were the sentinels for their respective state working on the States behalf to veto any unjust laws that would unfairly affect their state.   The State’s U. S. Senators functioned in this manner for over 100 years until 1913 when the 17th amendment was enacted.

The 17^th Amendment

Enactment of the 17^th amendment destroyed the balances of authority the Founding Fathers had placed in the constitution to protect the rights and freedoms of the people.  No longer were the senators obligated to do the bidding of their respective state. 

Under the original constitution the U. S. Senators were appointed by the State legislators to serve the State for a period of six years.  The U. S. Senators worked for their State reporting back to the State legislators actions that were occurring at the Federal government level.  The State legislators then advised the U. S. Senators what actions they should or should not take with regards to the procedures of the Federal government.  Our state legislators kept control over the Federal government by controlling the actions of their appointed United States Senators.

Today’s U. S. Senators

Today the U. S. Senators campaign for votes from the voting population of their respective state.  The U. S. Senators have no obligation to follow or listen to the directives from their State’s elected authority.  An established check on the Federal government was eliminated. 

Currently our U. S. Senators campaign for votes just has the House of Representatives campaign directly for the people’s votes.  As such the U. S. Senators have NO motivation to protect their state from an over bearing central government.  In order to get re-elected the Senators find that
providing benefits catered to the FEW but politically powerful fulfill their base to being elected to the office of U. S. Senator. 

The people within the state thinking they were going to get more power and control over their U. S. Senators have found they now have less.  Even in these perilous economic times facing the Federal government the U. S. Senators has little motivation to correct the problems facing America.

Repeal the 17^th Amendment

By repealing the 17^th amendment a check on the Federal government is re-established.  Once again the State’s can veto unjust unfair laws regulations and taxes.  This reinstatement of the checks and balances established by our Founding Fathers will be the beginning of the healing of America.

Wall of Protection

 America’s Wall of Political Protection

America’s wall of political protection is a set of “checks and balances” drafted into our constitution to provide the States’ with the authority to keep the federal government in check.  It is the checks and balances that protect the rights and freedom of the people.

Our Founding Fathers were so fearful of a runaway central government that they felt it necessary to establish in the U. S. Constitution multiple checks and balances.  The Bill of Rights is one of the “checks and balances” added to the constitution to further clarify what the federal government could or could not do. 

Experienced Firsthand

The Founding Fathers had been allowed to experience firsthand what it was like to live under the control of an all powerful central form of government.  It was the rulings of an unjust King thousands of miles away that led to the Revolutionary War.  After the war our Founders lived under a charter, the Articles of Confederation, which taught them the problems with a central government that did not have sufficient authority to rule efficiently. 

Faced with the two extremes the Founding Fathers did not want their newly formed government to have the characteristics of either form of government.  The Founders labored thousands of hours deliberating over the clauses and wording that would be included in the constitution providing the necessary protections. 

Protecting the Unalienable Rights and Freedoms

The Founders were so diligent in protecting the people’s unalienable rights and freedoms that drafting the constitution took nearly eleven years to accomplish.  After the constitution was drafted it took two additional years before the document was ratified to become the “Constitution of the United States of America”.  The Bill of Rights was added to the constitution as many of the Founder’s felt additional support was necessary to enhance the checks and balances within the constitution.  The resulting document enhanced America’s wall of political protection by establishing additional checks and balances.

Checks and Balances

Our Founders were fearful of a runaway central government so within the constitution were placed “checks and balances” so that actions taken by the central government could be controlled.  Over the years we have allowed our representatives to alter the constitution thereby removing many of the established checks and balances.

Today we are facing the effects of removing these checks and balances from our constitution.  Our country has become what our Founders feared the most.  Our federal government has near unlimited power of its citizens. Many of the ills facing this nation are the result of our abandoning the safe guards provided in the original Founder’s constitution.

Today’s runaway government must be bridled.  Our politicians are not able to establish control over the federal bureaucracy on their own.    It is up to us the people to step in to take control re-establishing the checks and balances that were placed in the constitution when it was originally ratified in 1789. 

Healing of America

America can be healed.   The process begins with educating the American public of the great document they had been given by the Founders.  When an understanding of the U. S. Constitution is fully comprehended by the population as a whole we will have within our power the ability to begin healing America.  By re-establishing America’s wall of political protection (s) we can heal the constitution which will allow the healing of America to begin.

Thomas Jefferson Center

The Thomas Jefferson Center has developed several program and seminars designed to teach the principles encased in the United States Constitution.  These programs are provided to empower individuals with positive strategies to begin the process of healing America. 

We ask that you continue to check out the website.  Contact us for information along with seminar locations in your area.  America can be healed.  The healing of America will require your help.  You may call us at  Call 801 938-7135.

The Most Powerful Political Office in the World

 The President of the United States of America

First Major Challenge

The first challenge our founders undertook in creating the constitution for the United States was determining the number of presidents that our country should have.  Some of our founders wanted a president to represent each state.  Others only wanted there to be one president.  While yet others wanted there to be presidents assigned to geographical areas.
 
It took 67 votes before our founders had a consensus.   Our Founders created the office for one president.  It was felt that one president would be able to operate with vigor along with being unable to evade responsibility for errors in judgment.
 
Under the Articles of Confederation we did not have a president.  Our Founders new the error of not having an executive officer because they lived through a period where it was near impossible to get things done.  Everything was being done by committee.  Governing by committee is very inefficient as there was no one in authority to make a final decision.
 

Established Multiple Checks and Balances

At the same time they were fearful of an all powerful central authority.  That was the reason for the Revolutionary War that had been fought just a few years earlier.  Therefore, knowing that a central managing president had to be installed they established check and balances so that the president could not become a dictator. 

 
Our founding fathers proved to be extremely wise.  Wise in understanding human nature.  They knew that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.  So understanding this reality the founders established the constitution with multiple checks and balances to protect the rights and freedoms of the people.

 
The Constitution that WAS!

Our founding fathers established in the constitution six duties the office of the president was to be responsible to carry out.  These were to be the only duties of the president.

1. The president was to be the “Chief of State” for all the states of the nation.
2. The president was to be the “Commander-in-Chief” over all the military in peace and war.
3. The president was to be the “Chief Executive Officer” over the executive branch.  The executive branch was to perform duties assigned by the House and Senate.  It would be the responsibility of the “Chief Executive Officer” to determine how these assignments were to be carried out.
4. The president was to be the “Chief Diplomat” handling foreign relations.
5. The president was to be the “Chief Architect” for needed legislation.  The president was to advise the House and Senate in establishing legislation.
6. Lastly, the president was to be the “Conscience of the Nation”.  The president would be able to pardon or reprieve those that were to be unjustly punished for acts outside the purview of the States.  The president was to be entrusted to be the “heart and soul” of the nation.

This was the limit of the duties assigned by the founding fathers to the office of the President of the United States. 

Today the president has been given authority that far exceeds what our founders had originally intended.

Video – The Most Powerful Political Office in the World

In the video Dr. Glenn Kimber will explain the duties that congress has assigned to the office of president duties that exceed the limits set by our founding fathers.  James Madison, the father of the Constitution, said the powers given to the federal government should be few and defined.

Originally the federal government was restricted to laws and regulations that are outside of the States’ control. This is no longer the case.  The president is making laws by executive order that affect peoples freedoms along with the States respective rights and sovreignty.
 
The duties that have been allocated to the president are so immense that no one person can effectively manage all of the bureaus, departments, and agencies.  Congress has not held their responsibility by utilizing the “checks and balances” that had originally been established. 
 

America Can Be Healed!

To heal America we need to bring the constitution as originally established by our founding fathers back into fruition.  We must restore the checks and balances that the founders had originally provided to protect the rights and freedoms of the people.

“Healing of America” Seminars

In this brief video Dr. Glenn J. Kimber tells us in his own words why he feels the Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Restoration seminar series “The Healing of America” is so important.

The average citizen of the United States of America does not understand their central governing document, the United States Constitution. In recent months a furvor has been created believing that the constitution should be changed that it is no longer relevant to the people of today. Yet few citizens of the United States actually know what is contained in this great document.

As citizens of this great country we should know and understand our constitution, our history, our heritage. It is vitally important that we as a people understand this governing document before any actions are taken to change or alter the United States Constitution.

Our Education System No Longer Has Guiding Principles

Many of our university professors do not have an understanding of the constitution. There are numerous professors that are actively teaching “constitutional studies” that are deficient in the necessary knowledge and understanding of our United States governing document. The principles contained in the constitution are eternal! Our founding fathers labored diligently over every word of this document so that our God given rights and freedoms would be protected.

Check out Part 2 of the Healing of America Seminars

Our Founding Fathers Were Inspired by God!

The Founding Fathers experienced first hand what it is like to “love your King” to being ruled tyrannically by that King. They knew without question the evils of an all powerful cental government. Our founding fathers understood that the central government must be controlled or its citizens would lose their freedom.

The “Healing of America” seminars consist of 4 ten hour lessons explaining in detail the United States history, constitution phrase precept by precept along with solutions to correct the problems America is under going. You will leave the seminars feeling positive about this country. America can be healed.

Seminar One – God’s Hand in Building America

Anything that would be added or taken from the U. S. Constitution is evil. Our founding fathers worked diligently debating the inclusion or exclusion of words for the constitution. It was understood that words in themselves have power thereby each word in the constitution was carefully considered.

Seminar Two – The Constitution – Preamble

Detail step-by-step explaining every clause in the constitution. This seminar will cover why the founding fathers placed into the constitution the clauses that were included as well as why some things were left out.

Seminar Three – Attacks on the Founding Fathers

During this seminar you will discover who along with why the founding fathers were being attacked? What was the motivation of the attackers? What was the goal of attacking the founding fathers? What has placed America in the difficult situations the United States now finds itself?

Seminar Four – The Healing of America – Restoring the Constitution

Discover how to heal America in its time of need. Positive actions that will work to correct the problems and ills of America. America can be healed. The constitution of the United States can be restored. The actions taken must be measured as well as performed in the proper order.

In seminar four you learn how to help America heal. You will leave this seminar feeling very POSITIVE knowing America can and will survive.

Restoring the Constitution to its Original Form

Forty-seven steps to heal the constitution. If the people are united these 47 steps to healing our country can be accomplished in less than four years. By working together this nation can be healed. Only through knowing and understanding the Founding Father’s Constitution can we protect our God given rights and freedom.

The Tale of Two Constitutions

The people of the United States are living an illusion.  Most citizens of this country feel their rights and freedoms are protected by the U. S. Constitution.  This is no longer the case.  Over the years the constitution has been changed so that the present document lacks the protections the original charter had in place to protect the peoples’ freedoms. 

We now have two distinctly different constitutions.  The first constitution was written and ratified by our Founding Fathers.  The latter is the constitution that we are governed by today.  There is a drastic difference between the two constitutions. 

In “The Tale of Two Constitutions” video is presented for your edification.  Dr. Glenn J. Kimber provides information about the U. S. Constitution our Founding Father’s had created to control the United States federal government.  The constitution was written to place shackles on the federal bureaucracy so that the freedoms of the people would be protected. 

The Constitution as It WAS!

Our Founding Father’s felt that the document possessed great power in its ability to protect and guarantee the freedoms of the people.  The Revolutionary War ended September 3, 1783.  The U. S. Constitution was not ratified until March 4, 1789 nearly seven years after ending the war.  Great care and deliberation was taken by our founders in choosing the words and phrases used in the constitution.

Major debates occurred for several months by our Founding Fathers over the wording of our constitutional document.   The constitution provided the necessary protections for individual States and the people alike.  The Founding Fathers were aware and fearful of an all powerful central government.  The U. S. Constitution was written to limit the powers of the central government thereby protecting the freedoms of each and every citizen.

Our original constitution was a charter designed to shackle the federal government limiting it to what it could do or not do.  The Senate was established to protect the State’s rights.  Each word and phrase found in the constitution was added to the document after diligent efforts by our founders.  Many of the provisions of the constitution required multiple votes before an acceptable consensus had been established. 

The Tale of Two Constitutions Video

In this video Dr. Kimber explains why the constitution was written as it was.  Dr. Kimber then goes onto explain the protections we lost by adding certain amendments to the constitution.  The poorly thought out amendments have greatly altered the checks and balances the founders had placed in the constitution to protect the people’s rights and freedoms.

Many of the problems the United States is facing today are the result of abandoning the principles encased within the original constitution by our founders.  Our founders believed the people’s rights were unalienable.  In addition the rights of the government were those rights and responsibilities the people have given the government. 

The Tale of Two Constitutions – Part 2

In this video presentation, The Tale of Two Constitutions, Dr. Glenn Kimber discusses the difference between the constitutions as established by our Founding Fathers versus the constitution that we are governed by today.  The differences between the two constitutions are quite dramatic.  Many of the problems we face as a nation today are the result of the changes that the people have allowed to transpire by altering the constitution.

A Wise Old Adage

There is an old adage that goes something like this:  “Don’t tear down the fence until you know why it was built”.  Over the years as a people we have allowed our elected officials to make changes to our constitution that has made alterations to the constitution without understanding the full consequences of the change.   These changes through ill advised amendments have eliminated many of the “checks and balances” that were in our original constitution. 

Amendments to the Constitution

Each new amendment to the constitution supersedes everything before it.  Though Article 5 of the constitution provides for the people to be able to amend their constitution great care should be taken when considering amendments.  It is important that changes to the document not alter the “checks and balances” that have been established.

Every citizen of the United States should have an understanding of the constitution that the Founding Fathers created.  Only through knowledge can educated choices be made.  We the people have allowed our political officials to pollute the constitution. 

It is important to remember that power corrupts and that absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Anyone with power will devote further efforts to increase his power and authority.  The people have allowed our elected officials to increase their powers over the people.   By making changes to the constitution our government officials, as well as judicial body have made procedural moves to enhance their authority and power.

The Constitution as it IS TODAY!

It is common to hear people upset with their elected officials for not adhering to their promises of protecting the constitution.  The elected officials often appear dismayed feeling that they have been actively protecting the constitution.  The problem arises because there are the two constitutions. 

Our federal officials when accepting a position in the federal government must affirm their allegiance to the constitution of the United States of America.  The constitution these elected officials are affirming to protect is the constitution as it is today.  The constitution as created by our Founding Fathers has been altered to the point that the people’s rights and freedoms are no longer protected.

It is therefore possible for an elected official to correctly claim he is working to preserve and protect the constitution.  Often people whom are upset over the actions taken by their elected officials are upset because the constitution they know and understand is the constitution of the founding fathers and not the constitution that we are governed by today.

Healing America By Healing the Constitution

Over the years attempts had been made to heal problems that America found itself afflicted with to only cure that ailment having five other societal ills pop-up.  Most all of the problems that America is undergoing today are the result of alterations made to the founding fathers constitution. 

Thomas Jefferson Center’s answer to healing America is to return the constitutional “check and balances” to the constitution that our founding fathers had originally placed in this great document.  By reestablishing the “checks and balances” problems can be corrected without creating additional societal problems. 

The Tale of Two Constitutions – Part 2

Dr. Kimber uses this video to explain the two constitutions as well as the constitution that we have today.  He then provides an answer to correcting America’s ills and healing the constitution.  I invite you to take a few minutes to view the video.