The Promises One Makes When Taking an Oath of Office

Honorable “Oath of Office” Responsibilities, Powerful and Important Reminders by We the People, for elected representatives and public officials, Concise, Direct, Unarguable, Urgent, Compelling:
3/5/13. BILLS OF RIGHTS ARE INVIOLATE, NOT STATUTE, NOT SUBJECT TO MISINTERPRETATION, MISCONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION, BUT RIGHTS GRANTED TO THE PEOPLE BY "THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND";
NOT PRIVILEGES GRANTED BY THE STATE OR ELECTED OFFICIALS; NOT THEIRS TO TAKE FROM THE PEOPLE.

Colorado State Senators and Representatives: Keep foremost in your deliberations, America’s Organic Founding Documents -- the Declaration of Independence , Colorado and U.S. Constitutions and their incredibly important Bills of Rights; then especially, your sacred Oath of Office, taken to judiciously, tenaciously and continuously honor them. This is the only Oath taken — not to one's self, political party, business, family, friends, lobbyists, etc.,  only to “support and defend” (not ignore  or breach) “The Supreme Law of the Land” -- Colorado and U.S. Constitutions.

Oath of Office

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States (and Colorado) against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
US Constitution -- Bill of Rights,  Amendment II: “ . . . the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Amendment IV: “The right of the people to be secure in their person, houses, papers, and effects . . . shall not be violated . . ."

Colorado Constitution — Article II, Bill of Rights:
“In order to assert our rights, . . . and proclaim the principles upon which our government is founded, we declare: Section 1. ". . . All political power is vested in and derived from the people; all government, of right, originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.” Section 2. ". . . The people of this state have the sole and exclusive right of governing themselves, as a free, sovereign and independent state; and to alter and abolish their constitution and form of government whenever they may deem it necessary to their safety and happiness . . .”

Section 3. ". . . All persons have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; of acquiring, possessing and protecting property; and of seeking

Section 13.  "Right to bear arms.  The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property . . . shall be called in question . . ."

Law, and "the Supreme Law of the Land"

Law is where the government tells the people what to do. The Constitution is where We the People tell the government what to do! There is nothing in the Constitution that tells people what to do, with one exception: If you win an election you are required to swear an oath,“to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The Constitution is the "supreme Law of the Land" because it says so. The Declaration of Independence is the intent of law. Together -- the law and intent of law -- form The Law.

The other momentous part of the Constitution is its incredibly important Bill of Rights--the first ten amendments that tell the government what it can not do to the people! The First Amendment, starting with, "Congress shall make no law ..." delineates the precious five freedoms of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly and Petition. And oh, if only there were one that absolutely prohibited the federal government from doing anything not authorized by the Constitution.

There is--the tenth amendment: "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." Federal powers not stated are not authorized.

Together, these two make the states and their citizens sovereign--superior to, chief or greatest, supreme in authority, rank or power over the federal government. Can the people keep it that way? Does this explain in any way why the Freedom Documents are so de-emphasized, marginalized, and just plain not taught, mentioned, celebrated , honored or otherwise revealed?

No piece of paper with writing on it protects rights or freedoms. No good idea enforces obligation. And no good intention compels responsibility. Ink on paper provides a record, and a means to communicate and preserve that record. The force behind it is the people who understand, resolve and "solemnly publish and declare" that certain things are so and will remain so. Freedoms are maintained solely by "We the People." Do your part.

-- from TOTAL Power of ONE in America, Ch 17, Discovering the Freedom Documents, by Fred Holden

Constitution Day Should Be Every Day

Not long ago, then-Colorado El Paso County Commissioner Douglas Bruce set a goal to favor 10,000 Colorado high school seniors with a free copy of the Declaration of Independence and U. S. Constitution, and had so far distributed 5,500 copies. While a dozen districts accepted, two refused.

For both those that accepted and those that did not:

WRONG ANSWER!

There is no excuse whatever that Colorado students do not have at least one, if not several, copies of the Declaration of Independence and U. S. Constitution with its incredibly important Bill of Rights. The right answer for each school district and for each student should be:

"Thank you, but there is no need. Our students already have several copies of the Declaration and Constitution received over their many years of taxpayer-provided AND -FINANCED public education."

These two important documents can be purchased from a variety of sources for fifty cents or less, and the money is already there. According to the Colorado Department of Education, Colorado public schools spent $10,218,647,782 in fiscal 2010, an average of $12,916 each for its789,496.6 pupils, ( www.cde.state.co.us/cdefinance/FY09-10RevExp.htm ).

Prior to the 2009-2010 fiscal year Colorado's Legislature required school districts to set aside and spend up to $134 per student for "supplies, textbooks, library books and periodicals," and capital and insurance reserves. Surely every school district, recognizing its duty to the taxpayers to a good education, and to this nation that has made the public schools possible, ought to make sure that every middle school and high school student has a copy of our nation's two essential foundation documents.

Why get these two important Freedom Documents touted frequently to all students, adults, citizens? The U. S. Constitution is the "supreme Law of the Land" because it says so (Article VI, Clause 2). The Declaration of Independence is the intent of law. Together they form The Law.

It was now-deceased Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-West Virginia) who made September 17 "Constitution Day." Byrd successfully pushed a federal law requiring all federal employees, and all schools receiving federal funds, to have education and training about the Constitution every September 17.

President Bush proclaimed September 17 as Constitution Day and the start of Constitution and Citizen Week with this statement, "I encourage Federal, State and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that celebrate our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of our great Nation."

As individual and sovereign citizens, and each one a Power of ONE, we can do more. Honoring "Each One Teach One" (preferably Ten), every one of us can learn-and-share, cherish, and pass on to others, America's Freedom Documents, history, heritage and Founding.

Owning the documents is just the first step. Familiarity makes the Freedom Documents more interesting, vital, personal and powerful. You can invent your own ways to teach yourself and your family or friends. For example, for many years I have issued "FreedomScore20xx" for individuals and families to celebrate the twenty ("score") days of Freedom, from Flag Day, June 14 to Independence Day. It encourages you to review, one-a-day, the Declaration of Independence, seven Articles of the Constitution, the first ten amendments – its incredibly important Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance and a last review of the Declaration.

The DVD movie, A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation, is a fun, easy way to learn the beauty, majesty and near miracle of the signing of the U. S, Constitution in 1787. Single priced at $19.95 by the National Center for Constitutional Studies, the DVD/paper sleeve is now at ten for $25. Buy ten! Share nine! [NCCS pocket U. S. Constitution, 10 for $5, 100 for $30(!); $19.95 The 5000 Year Leap book, 10 for $50(!), 1-800-388-4512.]

Make this "Constitution Day" column a part of the handouts that form your nine giveaway information Freedom Packets.

The NCCS website also tells how you or your group can sponsor a "Making of America" one-day Saturday “Making of America” Constitution seminar that often features NCCS president Earl Taylor, Jr. as presenter. Take that up as a personal challenge.

All elected public officials must swear an oath of office to support and defend their U. S. and State Constitutions. Ask them, and candidates for public office, if they have read those documents they are sworn to uphold, and to what extent. (And, have you read them?)

Daniel Webster said, "Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."

Senator Byrd concluded a television interview, 8/2/04, with these thoughts:

"To the American people I say, awaken to what is happening. It is the duty of each citizen to be vigilant, to protect liberty, to speak out, left and right, and disagree, lest we be trampled underfoot by misguided zealotry and extreme partisanship.

"So, at a time when dissent is dismissed as being unpatriotic, when one’s beliefs are subject to ridicule or investigation, the strength of the individual is all the more important. If the individual’s voice is drowned out, if the spirit is extinguished and the fire of freedom dies, then who – who -- tell me, who -- shall be left to carry on the legacy of this Republic? We can turn the tide. You and I, and others like us, can turn the tide. We can turn the tide, for the individual mind remains an unassailable force.

"The individual voice can inspire others to act. A single act of bravery can lead an army against great odds. The strength of a single individual can give hope to the hopeless, voice to the voiceless, power to the powerless, and the precious light of liberty will once again burn brightly."

Finally, remember that very important part of the Preamble of the Constitution, " . . . and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, . . ." that means to keep George Washington’s "sacred fires of Liberty" alive for our children, grandchildren and unborn, unrepresented generations to come. It all boils down to this:

America: Bring It Back. Make It Free. Pass It On.

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