"The Constitution: An Introduction" was published this month by Basic Books. For those joining the conversation mid-stream, this is the third in a series of posts introducing some themes of "The ...

Historical amnesia is as dangerously disorienting for a nation as for an individual. So it is with the current wave of enthusiasm for “states’ rights,” “interposition,” and “nullification”—the claim ...

The repudiated doctrines of interposition and nullification were repudiated once more. Less than a year ago, on July 16, 2009, the Richmond Times-Dispatch ran an editorial apologizing for its role and ...

Matthew Spalding is the Kirby professor in constitutional government and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College and oversees the Allan P. Kirby Jr. Center for ...

WHEN COMPARED to other civilizations, America is still a fledgling nation. But it is old enough to repeat certain behaviors. We often forget just how cyclic we are as a nation, especially in the realm ...

A number of states, including Missouri, Kansas, and Alaska either have passed or are considering state laws intended to invalidate federal statutes, most notably, federal gun laws. Many have modeled ...

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Sen. Dick Brewbaker cringed when he was asked if his opposition to so-called Common Core Standards for schools represents an example of what some have called a new wave of ...

Texas Gov. Rick Perry talks about seceding from the Union, and he is echoed by Sarah Palin – to the cheers of adoring crowds. Texas gubernatorial candidate Deborah Medina, going even further than even ...

For those joining the conversation mid-stream, this is the third in a series of posts introducing some themes of “The Constitution: An Introduction,” my new book co-authored with my son, Luke Paulsen.