Graham Key of Liberty

46th and current U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in the Oval Office Last week we learned all about the executive branch of the federal government--the department of the president, vice president and the president's cabinet. We read through Article 2, which gives the  enumerated   powers of the president (which really aren't that many compared to the Legislative branch). Those powers are as follows: Be Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. military Require written counsel from any principal officer in his cabinet Grant reprieves and pardons, except for impeachment Make treaties (with 2/3 Senate approval) Appoint ambassadors, diplomats, supreme court justices and other officers and consuls Call special sessions of Congress Enforce the law Commission officers Receive ambassadors and public ministers Deliver the State of the Union address The president also has the following implied powers that just naturally go along with being the head of state: Re-institute the draft, or forced e...

No class this week means home study for all of you! WOO-HOO!  This week's lesson is all about what the Constitution says Congress is allowed to do. Here's what you will need to do to study it for yourself:  Watch the video below Complete Article 1 Section 8 in your Constitution journal; make sure you look up the meaning of all the words and phrases (for example, "letters of marque and reprisal") In your journal, label each power with the appropriate power category label: Economic, Citizenship, Judicial, Foreign Relations and War, Electoral, Other Print and complete the attached worksheet that I emailed to you. We will go over this in class next week, so don't forget it! Video:  ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS DUE 3/17: WRITING: Does the Congress have too much power or not enough? What additional powers should they be given, or what powers should be taken away? CONSTITUTION JOURNAL: Article 1 Section 9-10 BOOK DISCUSSION: We will postpone this until 3/17 . Discussion wil...

This week, we talked a bit about the vision our founding fathers had for our new government. They believed that in order for the power to truly belong to the people, they could not allow the government to have power to do anything the people themselves couldn't do, legislative power could not be transferred or delegated, laws that would violate the laws of God would be null and void, and the law could not be used to destroy equality and justice. We haven't always been so great at sticking to these principles in our 246-year history, but when you're working out a brand-new system that's never been tried anywhere else, you're bound to make a few mistakes! We also learned all about the legislative (from the Latin legis, meaning law) process as found in Article 1 Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution. It seems like a pretty tedious process, with lots of hoops to jump through, but the founders designed it that way, to make sure it wouldn't be too easy for Congress to ma...

      Last week we talked about the principles that guide the different forms of government, and how the Founding Fathers set up a system of virtue for our American government with checks and balances:  the House of Representatives checks the law on behalf the people the Senate checks the law on behalf of the states (changed to the people with the passing of the 17th Amendment) both houses of Congress have sole legislative powers, not a single executive the president checks the law on behalf of the whole nation the federal courts check the law for compliance with the Constitution Ultimately, however, they knew that the only way to create and maintain a virtuous government was if the people themselves were virtuous. They also recognized that the people must be taught the principles of virtue in churches, in homes and in schools. If the American people were themselves virtuous (and educated), the Founders knew that they would choose virtuous leaders to protect and pre...

Last week we discussed 18th-Century French political philosopher, Baron de Montesquieu's Three Species of Government, and the different characteristics of each (Republican, Monarchial and Despotic). The founders were very familiar with Montesquieu's ideas, and they firmly believed that the republican--or representative--form of democracy would work best for our new nation. Please watch the two videos below: We also had an opportunity to try out creating a new government for ourselves when we held our Interplanetary Convention for Peace. I hope that in participating in the simulation, you were able to consider some of the conflicts and compromises the founding fathers had to face as they tried to create a government that would satisfy the needs of the thirteen different colonies comprised of all the citizens of different backgrounds. As you read Fifty-Five Fathers , take note of these conflicts and  compromises and be prepared to discuss your thoughts during the book discussion....

Welcome to 2nd Semester! This one is my favorite because, even though we have a little more more work to do, we get to learn about how our government affects us today, and what rights and responsibilities we have right now. By the end of this semester, you will know more about this country than even most college students! (Sad, but true!) Please watch the video below with your notes open and write down anything you might have missed in class. Some reminders about what's new this semester: Hero Reports:  This is a written report AND presentation. You need to choose a famous American from the past or present  who is known for promoting the American values of freedom and liberty  (not George Washington, John Adams or James Madison). You need to sign up (with the name of your chosen hero) for a presentation no later than March 3rd .  Papers are due April 21st,  presentations begin on that same day. Constitution Journal:  Complete this to help you prepare for th...

Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull, 1820 We made it through the American Revolutionary War! I hope you all have grown to appreciate this part of our nation's history. We've learned a lot about many of our courageous and noble ancestors who were inspired by God to fight and sacrifice much to create this great country. I hope that, over this last semester, you have begun to understand what freedom and liberty really means, as well as the great blessing and responsibility that comes with just being an American citizen. This week, we went over the siege at Yorktown: the battle that effectively ended the Revolutionary War. Things came together so well for the Americans that fateful October of 1781, that it would be negligent for one to dismiss the obvious hand of providence that guided us to such a definitive victory!  Though much of the fighting ceased after Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, the War wasn't formally ended until nearly two years later, on Septemb...