Constitutional Chats Presented By Constituting America

How the 20th and 22nd Amendment shaped terms in office for federally elected officials. Continuing our “The Amendments and YOU!” series, Janine Turner, Cathy Gillespie, and student ambassadors Jewel and Jorne Gilbert interview Sen. Ted Cruz on how a potential constitutional amendment to establish term limits for members of Congress. Episode 60 of Constitutional Chats Podcast. Livestreamed on 3/9/2021. Sign up for our next Constitutional Chat via Zoom at http://constitutingamerica.org

James Madison wrote that "the great difficulty" of creating a system of government is finding the way it can "control ITSELF." 

Are checks and balances enough to protect your rights? The Anti Federalists thought no! What do you think? Is a Bill of Rights needed with a strong constitution that delegates and, more importantly, LIMITS power? This was a major debate among the founding fathers and it still rages on today. Join our panel and special guest Professor Christopher Burkett of the Ashbrook Center of Ashland Unversity as we discuss who was the most likely author of Brutus III, the anti-federalists’ fears about the treaty powers of the executive branch, “the great compromise” at the Constitutional Convention, James Madison’s role in the Bill of Rights, and much more!

Have you ever thought about how judges get their positions?  Some are elected, some are appointed and others go through lengthy, and often contentious, senate hearings broadcast on C-SPAN.  Why is that?  The Founders wanted federal judges to be insulated from political influences so they are given lifetime appointments and generous pensions for their service.  State judges rule on issues closer to the people so it makes sense some are elected by the very people their rulings will affect.  Join our panel and our guest, Carrie Severino with the Judicial Crisis Network, for this look into how our judges are chosen.

We have local courts.  We have state and federal courts.  Did you know we have another type of court most of us will never experience?  The military has its own court system and it follow the Uniform Code of Military Justice.  The UCMJ, since codified by congress, actually predates our country!  Some of the elements of the UCMJ are similar to civilian courts, like laws against murdering and stealing, but it also differs with laws pertaining to a solider being absent without leave (AWOL).  Join our panel and Captain Charles Stimson, Commanding Officer of the Preliminary Hearing Unit, for this discussion on military courts.

Imagine this. It’s the early years of our country.  After a lengthy legal career and senate confirmation, you  become a Supreme Court Justice.  One of your duties?  Get on your horse and travel hundreds or thousands of miles around your “circuit” to hear appeals case.  Believe it or not, that was once the responsibility of our Supreme Court justices! What exactly are Federal District Courts, Circuit Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?  What are their jurisdictions?  How do they differ from state courts?  For these answers and more, join our panel and special guest, Senior Fellow with the National Center for Public Policy Research Horace Cooper, as we examine our federal court system.