All Legislative Powers Herein Granted

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The Constitution is a rather interesting and fairly easy read, and also fairly short:

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am17S1

Section 8… how appropriate, defines the powers of congress.

To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises to pay the debts and provide for defense and general welfare of the United States.

I guess it’s that “general welfare” statement that is getting us into so much trouble, since the rest of the powers are clearly delineated. To borrow money, regulate commerce, naturalization, bankruptcies. To coin money, set weights and measures, punish counterfeiting, establish post offices and post roads, grant patents and copyrights, and punish piracy and high seas felonies. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, to raise and support an army, navy, and to govern the same. To call forth the militia, and to establish, arm, and train said militia. Govern the capitol. To make laws necessary for executing all the powers above.

The president meanwhile is the commander in chief of the armed forces, may enter into treaties with the advice and consent of the senate, and appoint ambassadors, public ministers and consuls. He may appoint Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other public officers not defined in the constitution but established by legislation.

It would seem to reason that positions established by legislation must fall under the powers assigned to congress, as the powers not delegated…and so forth. Readily apparent is the constitutional justification for the departments of Treasury, State, Commerce, and Defense. Also apparent is the justification for the Post Master General, although this position has been eliminated as a cabinet level position.

The section restricting states powers is rather small; basically states are prohibited from engaging in independent diplomacy, warfare, or the taxation of imports and exports, or in other words from interfering in the powers reserved for the federal government. The section on states basically requires that states cooperate with one another and treat each other fairly.

One is left wondering, how from this clear, concise, and graceful start we have created the monstrosity that is today, the federal government. One must wonder where the justifications for the following departments lie: Interior, Agriculture, Labor, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Environmental Protection, and Health and Human Services. Veterans Affairs can be somewhat traced back to Amendment 14 #4 regarding the validity of debts incurred for the payment of pensions and bounties for service. Homeland Security quite logically, would seem to fall under the jurisdiction of Defense.

One must remember that powers not delegated to congress or prohibited to the states, belong to the states. There is no delegation to congress, outside of the creation of post roads, anything in the realm of transportation… the same can be said of labor, education, health and human services, and so on, and so forth.

I urge my state and its elected representatives to firmly and resolutely avow its sovereignty in all powers not delegated to the federal government. To reject the bribery of federal monies used to entice states to comply with the federal government’s wishes as opposed to the wishes, desires, and will of its people. Support Michigan’s House Concurrent Resolution #4 and the states of Washington, New Hampshire, Arizona, Montana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas in affirming “sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and to urge the federal government to halt its practice of imposing mandates upon the states for purposes not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States.”

I want to see Colorado added to that list, for as the federal government spirals completely and utterly out of control, it is only the sovereign states and people that can restrain it.

If you are from Colorado, or wish to see your state express its sovereignty, please comment and also express your wishes to your elected representatives.

~Finntann~

http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/
http://www.lp.org/