From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. When studying Congress’ authority and responsibilities in Section 8 of Article I of our Constitution, one of the shortest clauses has become one of the most complicated and litigated in American history. Clause III, known as the Commerce Clause, gives Congress the power “To regulate Commerce with … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Commerce Clause
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The First Amendment: America’s Unique Foundation of Freedom
From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Mar 29, 2026 When I teach about the American Revolution, I explain that it initially began as a fight for the colonists’ rights as British subjects that later turned into a revolution for independence. Even among the patriots in the colonies, many believed the British Empire was … Continue reading The First Amendment: America’s Unique Foundation of Freedom
Constitution 101: The Borrowing Clause
From the Lawton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Mar 1, 2026 When our Founders drafted the Constitution, they envisioned three branches of government with equal strength, balanced by a system of checks and balances. Yet they clearly leaned toward strengthening Congress. Article I, Section 8, which outlines the powers of Congress, is, by far, the … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Borrowing Clause
Constitution 101: General Welfare Clause
From the Layton Constitution By James Finck, Ph.D. Feb 10, 2026 One of the primary goals of our Founders in writing the Constitution was to limit governmental authority. While they recognized the need for a stronger federal government, they also deeply feared it. To help protect the nation, they created a system that limited the … Continue reading Constitution 101: General Welfare Clause
The Tree of Liberty and the cost of Revolution
From the Layton Constitution “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” This famous line, attributed to Thomas Jefferson, has returned to public discourse amid protests against ICE and Donald Trump. It is not usually spoken by elected leaders, who understandably avoid revolutionary language, but … Continue reading The Tree of Liberty and the cost of Revolution
The Long Shadow of the Monroe Doctrine
From the Southwest Ledger By James Finck, Ph.d. on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 When it comes to the situation in Venezuela, President Trump made an interesting comment: “If any South American country misbehaves toward any European country let the European country spank it.” While this certainly sounds like something Trump might say the quote actually … Continue reading The Long Shadow of the Monroe Doctrine
The long shadow of the Monroe Doctrine
From the Lawton Constitution When it comes to the situation in Venezuela, President Trump made an interesting comment: “If any South American country misbehaves toward any European country, let the European country spank it.” While this certainly sounds like something Trump might say, the quote actually belongs to Theodore Roosevelt. It is a reminder that … Continue reading The long shadow of the Monroe Doctrine
When protest threatens democracy
From the Lawton Constitution For me, one of the most important issues we face moving forward is our respect for law and democracy. Whether one agrees with it or not, ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is a legal federal agency carrying out legally authorized duties. To claim otherwise is misleading and, at best, risks … Continue reading When protest threatens democracy
2025: A Year in Review
From the Lawton Constitution At the end of every year, I like to look back over my columns and reflect on the events significant enough to write about. Given the ups and downs of the past 12 months, it almost feels cliché to say that 2025 was a crazy year. Crazy has become the norm. … Continue reading 2025: A Year in Review
Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
From Southwest Ledger When the American colonies first clashed with Britain over taxation, much of their frustration focused on Charles Townshend and later Frederick North. Both men served simultaneously as members of Parliament and as Chancellor of the Exchequer. In American terms, this would be like someone serving as a senator while also acting as … Continue reading Constitution 101: The Ineligibility and Incompatibility Clauses
