The Constitutional Line
Did you know that under Article VI of the U.S.
Constitution your State legislators swear an oath
to uphold and defend not just your state
constitution, but also the Constitution of the United
States? What rights and powers do our State
representatives have to uphold and defend the U.S.
Constitution?
Under the Constitution as deliberately designed, the
States and State Legislatures are supposed to:
‣ be the “sure guardians of the people's
liberty.” (Madison)
‣ prevent the federal government “from
over passing their constitutional
limits.” (Hamilton)
‣ “erect barriers at the constitutional
line as cannot be surmounted either by
themselves or by the General
Government.” (Jefferson)
‣ “jealously and closely watch the
[federal] government, and be able to
resist . . . every assumption of power,
[better] than any other power on
earth can do.” (Madison)
And, Framer John Dickinson said if the States
allowed the federal government to “interfere” in the
responsibilities and affairs of the States, “it will be
www.WheresTheLineAmerica.com
“It’s the System, Stupid!”
A Look at the Rights, Powers and Duties
Just like a bicycle is not designed to operate with of Our State Representatives
one bloated tire and one flat one, our “Compound
Republic” was not designed to function with a
bloated federal and flat state governments. FEDS TO SHUT DOWN
Samuel Adams said that such a bloated federal TOOELE BAKE SALES?
government would
Rebecca Ford is the Special Education teacher at
“totally annihilate the Sovereignty of the Tooele High School. She loves her students and
several States so necessary to the Support of knows them better than anyone. With their parents’
the confederated Commonwealth, and sink and the school’s approval, Mrs. Ford helped her
both in despotism.” students organize a weekly bake sale. It’s not just
about selling goodies. Her students help plan and
It’s about the system. It is the duty of State
prepare the bake sale and get to interact with the
legislators to “erect barriers at the constitutional line”
other students in selling the treats. And, they use
so that the bicycle of our nation moves forward with
their profits to supplement their special educational
both tires constitutionally balanced.
programs.
Call To Action
‣ Study and know Where’s the Line?
‣ Share with your family, neighbors and friends
Where’s the Line?
‣ Ask all of your representatives at all levels of
government Where’s the Line?
‣ Become personally invested through your time,
talents and resources in promoting the national
dialogue on Where’s the Line?
However, Congress recently passed a law giving the
federal Food and Drug Administration the authority
to decide from Washington whether Mrs. Ford and
her students in Tooele, Utah can continue their bake
(c) 2010 Ken Ivory sale program or not. Where’s the line?

Federal Govt In Control?
This federal government that wants to control
Ms. Ford’s classroom:
‣ has amassed a $14 Trillion national debt;
‣ overspends by more than $1 Trillion per
  “is first divided the federal government is critical to our system:
year;
‣ has unfunded obligations for Medicare,
Medicaid and Social Security greater than
$100 Trillion; and
‣ overspends with money created out of thin
air by the Federal Reserve Bank.
The federal government can’t manage itself and
yet it seeks to control from Washington almost
every aspect of our daily lives??
Where’s The Line to what the federal
government can and should control?
(c) 2010 Ken Ivory
The Balance of Powers
Internal & External Checks
The Founders knew it is the nature of men and
governments to amass unbridled power.
In 8th grade Civics, we generally only learned
the internal checks on government power
which we know as “Separation of Powers.”
But, you probably didn’t learn in 8th grade
Civics (or in college American History class)
that the States are supposed to be the external
checks on out-of-control federal power. James
Madison called our government a “Compound
Republic” which means that:
‣ The power of the People
between two distinct governments;”
‣ “The different governments will control
each other;” so that
‣ “a double security arises to the rights of the
people.”
Balance of Powers
However, according to James Madison, the
division of powers between the federal and the
state governments was not intended to be
evenly balanced:
The powers delegated by the proposed
Constitution to the Federal Government, are
few and defined. Those which are to
remain in the State Governments are
numerous and indefinite. – James
Madison, Federalist No. 45
This allocation of power between the states and
. . . preserving to the State authorities all that
vigor which the Constitution foresaw would
be necessary, not only for their own safety,
but for that of the whole. -- Thomas
Jefferson