On 9/17/1787, The Constitution was signed. [FN1] Ratification by “Conventions of nine States” was required. [FN2]. Neither “God” nor “Jesus Christ” appears in the Constitution or other founding documents, yet some insist our government was meant to be “Christian.” 1/10

For what The Constitution means, we look at the plain meaning of the text, broader legal context, applicable canons, and the legislative history. [FN3] I try to cite “primary sources,” or the “original records created during the time under study” [FN4] to address false claims. 2/10

A purported GOP candidate for Statewide office [FN 5] warns “stay away from higher education and [its] secular progressive bias.” [FN6 ] Journals of colleges and universities, generally, publish articles subject to “peer review.” [FN7] 3/10

A claim of “bias” is inapplicable to primary sources. They are original documents and consist of The Federalist [FN8], The Anti-federalist [FN9] Elliott’s Debates [FN10] and State convention records. [FN11] This a basic guide through the debates that ended 3/4/1789. 4/10

Only a fool or a charlatan says “STAY AWAY” from writings adverse to her or his position. The surest test of truth is its acceptance in the marketplace of ideas. [FN12] Please be assured, I’ll never tell you “stay away” from any other writings. 5/10

Footnotes: FN1. Stewart, The Summer of 1787, 2007, pp. 240-41. FN2. U.S. Const. Art. VII. FN3. Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, “construe.” FN4. Fordham University Libraries, LibGuides, American Studies: Primary Sources. 6/10

Footnotes: FN5. Ham County preacher Micah Beckwith has said he seeks the GOP nomination for IN Lt Governor, not determined by voters, but by the GOP State convention. FN6. Beckwith made this statement in conjunction with his teaching about history of The Constitution. 7/10
Footnotes: FN7. Under “peer review”: articles submitted for publication “are critically reviewed by other scholars (peers) [who] might reject the article, or require [] corrections before the manuscript is accepted for publication.” Univ of Denver, Research Guides. 8/10

Footnotes: FN8. “85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison betw October 1787 and May 1788. Libr of Congress Research Guides. FN9. The Anti-Federalist Papers, misc writings by those opposed to ratification. 9/10

Footnotes: FN10. Collects documents pertinent to ratification, including debates in the various State conventions. FN11. North Carolina, for example, published records of both of its conventions. FN12. Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). 10/10