Tag: donald-trump

National Guard troops policing capital not unprecedented, history shows

From the Southwest Ledger On Aug. 11, President Trump ordered around 800 National Guard troops to assume control of policing our nation’s capital — something that was done frequently in the 1960s but had not been done since the Nixon administration. According to CBS News, crime has fallen since the takeover, including violent crime down … Continue reading National Guard troops policing capital not unprecedented, history shows →

Constitution 101: Journal and Adjournment Clauses

Article I, Section 5, Clauses 3 and 4 of our Constitution proves there are some areas of the government where everyone actually can agree — well almost. Clause 3 states, “Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment … Continue reading Constitution 101: Journal and Adjournment Clauses →

Gerrymandering. It’s nothing new, but its effects are always decided by the majority.

From Southwest Ledger “The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy” is one of my favorite quotes from a Founding Father and one that I use whenever I teach about the Constitution. The quote by our most underrated founder, Elbridge Gerry, shows how the founders were cautious of protecting the government from the … Continue reading Gerrymandering. It’s nothing new, but its effects are always decided by the majority. →

Constitution 101: Congressional Punishment and Expulsion Clause

From Southwest Ledger On Dec. 21, 2023, the United States House of Representatives voted 311-114 to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress. Doing so was the first time a member had been expelled without a prior conviction of a crime since the Civil War. While Santos eventually would plead guilty to identity theft and … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Punishment and Expulsion Clause →

Army’s 250th Anniversary Celebration Overshadowed by ‘No Kings’ Protests

From Southwest Ledger I was disappointed June 14 as I saw several social media posts celebrating the low turnout at the military parade honoring of the 250th anniversary of the United States Army in Washington, D.C. Closer to home, Lawton/Fort Sill canceled their anniversary celebrations to ensure public safety following protests nationwide. I understand that … Continue reading Army’s 250th Anniversary Celebration Overshadowed by ‘No Kings’ Protests →

Constitution 101: Congressional Authority and the Quorum Clause

From Southwest Ledger In many ways, Article I, Section V of our Constitution is a continuation of Section IV in that it established the rules and powers of Congress. The first part gives Congress some judicial power while, at the same time, it eliminates one of the biggest tricks parties used to block legislation. Article … Continue reading Constitution 101: Congressional Authority and the Quorum Clause →

Constitution 101: Senate Impeachment Clause

From Southwest Ledger A primary goal of the Founders was to protect the people from a strong federal government. They accomplished this with a series of checks and balances where all three branches received relatively equal strength and gave each branch the ability to check each other’s powers. As an additional check on the power … Continue reading Constitution 101: Senate Impeachment Clause →