There is an indispensable relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. This lesson explores the universal principles outlined in the Declaration and their implications for the form of just government. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence cites God as the law-giver, protector, and judge. This lesson explores the roots of our form of government in the Declaration and why the Founders saw it necessary to separate the three powers of Government. God alone is trustworthy enough to exercise legislative, executive, and judicial power. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Freedom and equality are two intricately connected ideas. All Men are free because all Men are created equal and endowed with the same unalienable rights. Governments are instituted to secure those rights, and because all Men are equal and free, they cannot be governed without their consent. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Because all Men are equal and free, no one can rule another without the consent of the people. Consent is a fundamental principle of a free government, therefore it has significant implications for the form of government to be adopted. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Representation is the means by which the principle of consent of the governed is applied and maintained in the government. Representation allows citizens to entrust the governing of the country to a few people while still retaining the crucial ability to control the power of the government through periodic elections. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Because all men are free and equal, in the United States of America all sovereignty belongs to the people; they rule themselves. However, even though the people rule by means of representatives, the people are wholly excluded from the operations of government. Historical examples of ancient republics showed that this separation of sovereignty and power was a needed check on the people to bring stability to the government. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
The Constitutional principles discussed in previous lessons — separation of powers, representation, consent — encourages the people’s reason to rule their passions. Discover the simple but profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Because the People are sovereign, they are the most powerful element in our country, and therefore, the most dangerous. The Founders had the unique idea of wholly excluding the People from the administration of government while maintaining consent through periodic elections. To prevent the government from becoming tyrannical, the people gave the different powers of government to three separate institutions. Discover the profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
While separation of powers provides the great institutional restraint on government, the Founders understood that the perpetuation of free government ultimately depends upon a virtuous people. Experience and history has proved that a people will either be virtuous and free or corrupt and ruled. Discover the simple but profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
The election of 1800 demonstrated the legitimacy of the American system of government. For the first time in history, the people were able to assert their will and change the government, according to the strictures of a written constitution. With the election of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency, the American people effected a change of government without firing a shot. Discover the simple but profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
This lesson explores the reasons why the Constitution places limits on the the power of government. The Founders thought that the federal government should be limited to things that were national in character in order to preserve a free society. This idea has been overturned by a new doctrine that has transformed the form of American government. Discover the simple but profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Starting in the late 19th century a new ideology arose claiming that human nature had overcome the problem of faction thanks to the knowledge of science. Because of this, we no longer needed the antiquated features of the Constitution, like separation of powers, that made government slow and inefficient. This new ideology, known as Progressivism, gave rise to the rule of the bureaucracy that characterizes our government today. Discover the simple but profound truths of the Constitution in an entirely new way through Hillsdale College’s “Introduction to the Constitution.” Find yourself at the table with Dr. Larry Arnn, as he teaches his students the principles of liberty. Experience the lively discussions that take place as students explore the implications and beauty of our Constitution.
Dr. Larry Arnn discusses how the Declaration of Independence begins with a universal claim that applies to all mankind, and ends with a particular pledge among the Founders to God and to each other to support the Declaration.
Dr. Arnn and his class discuss how God, as lawmaker, supreme judge, and providential ruler, holds all three powers of government in him. The Founders charge the King with interfering with the legislature and the judges, attempting to be all three branches, but only God can be trusted with that power.
Dr. Arnn explores the phrase in the Declaration of Independence “all men are created equal,” incorporating Aristotle’s theories about rationality to understand the claims of the Founding Fathers.
This lesson explores the connection between equality and consent. Because we are all equal, no one person can govern another without their consent. This is a fundamental truth etched into the character of the nation.
Dr. Arnn discusses how representation is necessary to prevent tyranny, stop factions, and promote the common good.
Our system of government has two primary checks: the first is representation—a check on government; the second is an exclusion of the people from directly governing—a check on the people.
Madison says that these arrangements — how our system gives power to the government, maintains ultimate authority in the people, and prescribes how people must hold opinions over time to make them effective — allow the people to delegate authority to more than one branch, and prevent them from dominating one another.
Dr. Arnn and his class consider how it is right for the people to be sovereign, but also dangerous because they are the most powerful. The Founders’ solution was for the people to participate in elections, but prevent them from ruling directly. They must delegate power to representatives through periodic elections.
The structure of the Constitution promotes the correct cooperation of reason and passions. It channels popular control of the government in a way that encourages good character in the people.
The election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800 was the first non-violent transition of power from one party to another with the consent of the governed. Here’s how America achieved it.
Is it possible to maintain our Constitution’s principles as the size and scope of government expands?
Dr. Arnn draws a distinction between the old view that government should be limited, and Progressivism, which holds that human beings have transcended the problem of faction making the mechanisms of the old view, like separation of power and checks and balances, unnecessary.