Foundational Documents Quotes
Constitution
"Due Process" & "Equal Protection"
Constitution
"Full Faith and Credit" & "Privileges and Immunities"
Constitution
"To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States"
Constitution
"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land ..."
Federalist No. 70
A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government. A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution; and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government.
Federalist No. 10
A republic, by which I mean a government in which the scheme of representation takes place, opens a different prospect, and p romises the cure for which we are seeking
Federalist No. 10
Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.
Federalist No. 70
Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws
Letter from Birmingham Jail
For years now I have heard the word "Wait!" It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity ... We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "Wait."
Declaration of Independence
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury
Declaration of Independence
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent ...
Federalist No. 10
Hence, it clearly appears, that the same advantage which a republic has over a democracy, in controlling the effects of faction, is enjoyed by a large over a small republic...the extent of the Union gives it the most palpable advantage ...
Letter from Birmingham Jail
I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth
Federalist No. 70
I rarely met with an intelligent man from any of the States, who did not admit, as the result of experience, that the UNITY of the executive of this State was one of the best of the distinguishing features of our constitution
Brutus No. 1
In a republic of such vast extent as the United-States, the legislature cannot attend to the various concerns and wants of its different parts
Letter from Birmingham Jail
In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self purification; and direct action
Declaration of Independence
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people ...
Federalist No. 51
In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.
Federalist No. 51
In republican government, the legislative authority necessarily predominates. The remedy for this inconveniency is to divide the legislature into different branches
Brutus No. 1
In so extensive a republic, the great officers of government would soon become above the control of the people, and abuse their power to the purpose of aggrandizing themselves, and oppressing them ...
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny
Federalist No. 78
It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment; and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive arm even for the efficacy of its judgments
Letter from Birmingham Jail
My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolent pressure. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily
Letter from Birmingham Jail
One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judaeo Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of Independence
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses a nd usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government ...
Letter from Birmingham Jail
So the question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?
Articles of Confederation
The Stile of this confederacy shall be "The United States of America ... Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction and right, which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled
Letter from Birmingham Jail
The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws ...
Federalist No. 78
The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution ... Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void
Brutus No. 1
The first question that presents itself on the subject is, whether a confederated government be the best for the United States or not? Or in other words, whether the thirteen United States should be reduced to one great republic, governed by one legislature, and under the direction of one executive and judicial; or whether they should continue thirteen confederated republics, under the direction and control of a supreme federal head for certain defined national purposes only?
Federalist No. 10
The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States
Federalist No. 78
The judiciary, on the contrary, has no influence over either the sword or the purse
Brutus No. 1
The laws cannot be executed in a republic, of an extent equal to that of the United States, with promptitude ...
Articles of Confederation
The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever.
Brutus No. 1
The territory of the United States is of vast extent; it now contains near three millions of souls, and is capable of containing much more than ten times that number. Is it practicable for a country, so large and so numerous as they will soon become, to elect a representation, that will speak their sentiments, without their becoming so numerous as to be incapable of transacting public business? It certainly is not ...
Articles of Confederation
The united states in congress assembled shall never engage in a war, nor grant letters of marque and reprisal in time of peace, nor enter into any treaties or alliances, nor coin money, nor regulate the value thereof, nor ascertain the sums and expences necessary for the defence and welfare of the united states, or any of them, nor emit bills, nor borrow money on the credit of the united states, nor appropriate money, nor agree upon the number of vessels of war, to be built or purchased, or the number of land or sea forces to be raised, nor appoint a commander in chief of the army or navy, unless nine states assent to the same
Federalist No. 10
There are ... two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests
Brutus No. 1
These are some of the reasons by which it appears that a free republic cannot long subsist over a country of the great extent of these states. If then this new constitution is calculated to consolidate the thirteen states into one, as it evidently is, it ought not to be adopted
Federalist No. 51
To what expedient, then, shall we finally resort, for maintaining in practice the necessary partition of power among the several departments, as laid down in the Constitution? The only answer that can be given is, that as all these exterior provisions are found to be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places
Brutus No. 1
This government is to possess absolute and uncontrollable power, legislative, executive and judicial, with respect to every object to which it extends ...It appears from these articles that there is no need of any intervention of the state government
Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government
Letter from Birmingham Jail
We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed
Letter from Birmingham Jail
We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive...injustice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion before it can be cured. And now this approach is being termed extremist
Declaration of Independence
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America ... declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved ...
Federalist No. 70
Wherever two or more persons are engaged in any common enterprise or pursuit, there is always danger of difference of opinion ... And what is still worse, they might split the community into the most violent and irreconcilable factions, adhering differently to the different individuals who composed the magistracy.
Constitution
[POTUS] shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed"
Federalist No. 10
a society consisting of a small number of citizens, who assemble and administer the government in person, can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. A common passion or interest will, in almost every case, be felt by a majority of the whole and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party
Federalist No. 78
a strong argument for the permanent tenure of judicial offices, since nothing will contribute so much as this to that independent spirit in the judges which must be essential to the faithful performance of so arduous a duty
Federalist No. 78
all judges who may be appointed by the United States are to hold their offices DURING GOOD BEHAVIOR; which is conformable to the most approved of the State constitutions and among the rest, to that of this State ... The standard of good behavior for the continuance in office of the judicial magistracy, is certainly one of the most valuable of the modern improvements in the practice of government. In a monarchy it is an excellent barrier to the despotism of the prince; in a republic it is a no less excellent barrier to the encroachments and oppressions of the representative body. And it is the best expedient which can be devised in any government, to secure a steady, upright, and impartial administration of the laws.
Federalist No. 10
as each representative will be chosen by a greater number of citizens in the large than in the small republic, it will be more difficult for unworthy candidates to practice with success the vicious arts by which elections are too often carried; and the suffrages of the people being more free, will be more likely to centre in men who possess the most attractive merit and the most diffusive and established characters
Letter from Birmingham Jail
call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here. But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here ...
Federalist No. 70
declared in favor of a single Executive and a numerous legislature ... That unity is conducive to energy will not be disputed. Decision, activity, secrecy, and despatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number; and in proportion as the number is increased, these qualities will be diminished.
Federalist No. 51
for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which to a certain extent is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others
Federalist No. 51
giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others...Ambition must be made to counteract ambition
Federalist No. 78
in a government in which they are separated from each other, the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them.
Federalist No. 78
nothing can contribute so much to its firmness and independence as permanency in office, this quality may therefore be justly regarded as an indispensable ingredient in its constitution, and, in a great measure, as the citadel of the public justice and the public security
Brutus No. 1
the constitution and laws of every state are nullified and declared void, so far as they are or shall be inconsistent with this constitution, or the laws made in pursuance of it, or with treaties made under the authority of the United States. .... It has authority to make laws which will affect the lives, the liberty, and property of every man in the United States ...
Federalist No. 10
the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority
Federalist No. 51
weakness of the executive may require, on the other hand, and that it should be fortified ... An absolute negative [veto] on the legislature appears, at first view, to be the natural defense with which the executive magistrate should be armed
Constitution
"To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers"
Constitution
"We the People ..."
Letter from Birmingham Jail
I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.
Federalist No. 78
In unfolding the defects of the existing Confederation, the utility and necessity of a federal judicature have been clearly pointed out ... the only questions which have been raised being relative to the manner of constituting it, and to its extent
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue
Federalist No. 70
The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity; secondly, duration; thirdly, an adequate provision for its support; fourthly, c ompetent powers ...
Federalist No. 78
The interpretation of the laws is the proper and peculiar province of the courts. A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law
Federalist No. 10
There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects
Letter from Birmingham Jail
We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom. Abused and scorned though we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny