Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) September 14, 2009
This year, seven states have passed sovereignty resolutions under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Two states passed laws nullifying some federal firearms regulations. Thirteen states now have Medical Marijuana laws in direct opposition to federal laws. And three states are considering constitutional amendments allowing residents to effectively opt-out of any future national health care plan.
What does this have to do with September 17th, Constitution Day? According to Michael Boldin, founder of the Tenth Amendment Center, everything. "The Constitution of the United States was a revolutionary document," he said. "Before it, no government in history had seen its duties and restrictions so clearly and carefully defined"
When the Constitution was being considered for ratification, there was strong opposition from famous American figures that included George Mason and Patrick Henry. "One major reason for this was a fear of too much power," said Boldin. "The founding generation spent their lives toiling under a tyranny - a government without limits," he continued. "When the Constitution was written, it was done to limit the power of government. It was created under the principle of popular sovereignty - that 'We the People' created the government, and all powers not delegated to it, were retained."
According to the Tenth Amendment Center, the People delegated approximately 35 powers to the federal government and not included in those powers are national health care, the creation of free speech zones, federal gun regulations, the war on drugs, and more.
"The Constitution is not exclusively for either the left or the right. It established rules for limiting government power so your liberty would have a better chance of success," continued Boldin. "The founders created a system of government where the most important and most difficult issues would be kept close to home, and that's just the opposite of how things are today. That's why we created the 10-4 Pledge so people can find candidates for office who believe in the strict limitations on power that the Constitution stands for."
The 10-4 Pledge is a set of 10 affirmations and 10 promises for legislators and candidates. Included in the pledge is an affirmation that "All just political authority is derived from the People," and a promise that elected officials will always vote "in favor of the Constitution of the United States. Every issue. Every time. No exceptions. No excuses."
Already, several prominent candidates have affirmed these positions as early-signers of the pledge, including Randy Brogdon for Governor of Oklahoma, Adam Kokesh for US House in New Mexico, and Brandon Creighton from the Texas House of Representatives and author of HCR-50 - the Texas Sovereignty Resolution.
About the Tenth Amendment Center:
The Tenth Amendment Center, a Los Angeles-based think tank founded in 2006, acts as an educational forum on issues related to the 10th Amendment and Constitutional governance. http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/
Bryce Shonka, Media Director
Tenth Amendment Center