From Southwest Ledger Section III of Article I of the Constitution is all about the Senate. When reading the original Section III before modern amendments, right away one might notice some differences in the Senate today from when the Founders created it, and I have found that most Americans are surprised. Article I, Section III, … Continue reading Constitution 101: Senate Composition and Vacancy Clauses
Tag: history
Historic Travels: Ireland, Scotland and the Scots-Irish Influence on American Culture
From Southwest Ledger During my travels this summer I made my way across Ireland and Scotland and fell in love with the beauty and the rich history of these countries. During my stay, by far my favorite evenings were the ones where we were treated to nights of songs, dance, and stories. While every nation … Continue reading Historic Travels: Ireland, Scotland and the Scots-Irish Influence on American Culture
Tyranny of the Majority
From Southwest Ledger Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has announced that State Question 832 will be included on the June 16, 2026, ballot. This will be a difficult question for Oklahomans as, if passed, it will raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2029. Proponents for the initiative argue that wages have fallen … Continue reading Tyranny of the Majority
Constitutional Amendments That Impacted Our Election Day
From Southwest Ledger As Americans gather at the polls this week to choose our next president it may look a bit different than it has in the past. For good or bad, early voting and mail-in voting has become much more common, meaning the lines may be shorter. But at what cost? I have previously … Continue reading Constitutional Amendments That Impacted Our Election Day
Executive v. Executive: A Parallel in American Presidential Elections
From Southwest Ledger As a political historian, I was disappointed when Joe Biden backed out of the presidential race. I say that for no other reason than it’s been a rare occurrence in history where we have had two presidents battle it out. However, while it would have given me plenty to write about, a … Continue reading Executive v. Executive: A Parallel in American Presidential Elections
Constitution 101: Article I, Section II,Clause III: The Enumeration Clause
From Southwest Ledger Article I, Section II of the United States Constitution deals with the U.S. House of Representatives. A previous article discussed qualifications for membership in the House and the methods used for choosing representatives. In Clause III of Section II, the framers more instruct how the members of the House are to be … Continue reading Constitution 101: Article I, Section II,Clause III: The Enumeration Clause
“It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose”
From Southwest Ledger Unfortunately, assassination attempts are not new to our nation. In a time of such hatred, when each side sees the other as evil, it is no surprise that an attempt was made towards Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. When discussing assassinations, most historians focus on the death of the four … Continue reading “It takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose”
American Civics 101: The Preamble to the Constitution
From Southwest Ledger Although the Preamble is the most memorized part of the Constitution, it has no legal standing in government, however it does state the government’s authority and outline the government’s duties. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for … Continue reading American Civics 101: The Preamble to the Constitution
Do Televised Presidential Debates Sway Voters? Short answer: Probably.
From the Southwest Ledger Historically speaking, presidential debates are relatively new. The first one presidential debate was held between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy in 1960. Before then, debates were seen as beneath presidential candidates. There were plenty of debates for other positions. The 1858 Lincoln-Douglass Debates for the Illinois Senate seat are probably … Continue reading Do Televised Presidential Debates Sway Voters? Short answer: Probably.
U.S. Constitution 101: Laying a Foundation
From the Southwest Ledger From Southwest Ledger I have received a great deal of positive feedback from last week’s article, especially regarding the need for many citizens to retake a civics class. For that, I thank you. As an educator at heart, I would like to conduct an in-depth, multi-installment study of our Constitution. These … Continue reading U.S. Constitution 101: Laying a Foundation
Historically Speaking 