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Faith In Truth – A Force Unto Itself Never To Be Denied

Newsletter | May 26, 2022

Seek The Truth

Faith is the bedrock of America’s founding. Our Founding Fathers were men of faith — faith in God, faith in each other, faith in their own potential, and faith in the future of the nation they were building. In the last few issues of our newsletter we have been exploring the various forms that faith takes. This week, we look at faith in the truth.

Truth is a force all to its own. In time, truth wills out. It’s the “getting to” the truth of any matter that can take enormous patience, perseverance and at times, pain. But seeking truth, we must.

When truth is hidden, silenced, concealed or disguised, our society is scarred. Of late, examples of tall tale story-telling, boldfaced lies, and fake news are overwhelming. Here we are talking about the serial falsehoods infiltrating public discourse by powerful individuals and institutions, especially government officials or agencies we depend on to be truthful so we are able to make informed decisions for ourselves and our families. Or falsehoods told by the media that we depend on for facts, not propaganda. After all, if those controlling the flow of information mislead and deceive, our individual rights as Americans are jeopardized, and the security and sovereignty of our country is at risk.

For the sake of clarification, the now-debunked “Russia Hoax,” which ensnarled General Michael Flynn, America’s Future Board Chair, with false accusations, was contrived for political purposes, costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and setting into motion one of the most divisive eras in our history. What kept General Flynn steady and strong was his faith in the truth. “If I’m strong enough, it will all come out fine in the end. At the end of the day, the truth will come out. It always does.”

When it seems like we’re encircled by lies, the truth is a fortress. But it is up to each of us to protect what is true by seeking it out and safeguarding it by standing up and speaking out.

The great 17th century philosopher, John Locke, who influenced America’s founders, helping shape the birth of our great nation expressed the construct of truth in this way, “To love truth for truth’s sake is the principal part of human perfection in this world, and the seed-plot of all other virtues.”

At America’s Future, we encourage you to put your faith in the truth. When in doubt of what is presented as truth, seek it out, persevere in the search. Be an example to your family, friends, and community and make telling the truth central to our American way of life.

Please take this week’s Reader’s Survey and share your thoughts and insights about the battle for truth and accountability before Americans in the age of information warfare. Thank you to the thousands of readers responding to our surveys, and watch America’s Mondays With Mary every Monday at 9 a.m. with America’s Future Executive Director, Mary O’Neill to hear some of the readers’ comments we receive.

Take The Reader's Survey
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Honor Veterans

On Monday, America celebrates Memorial Day, an especially important holiday to us here at America’s Future. It commemorates the men and women in uniform who have given their lives to keep us free and ensure the future of our great nation.

Memorial Day was initially known as Decoration Day. In 1868, General John Logan, head of a fraternal organization of Union veterans of the Civil War known as the Grand Army of the Republic, called for a celebration of those who had died defending the Union. By the 20th century, the holiday came to commemorate the deaths of all those who had died while serving the United States.

The name “Memorial Day” was increasingly used instead of “Decoration Day,” and in 1967 federal law made the new name official. In 1968, Congress moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, which is the date we now celebrate.

We ask you to join America’s Future in commemorating the American heroes who laid down their lives for their country, and for all of us.

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Keeping You Informed

Separation of Powers – Executive Branch

Over the past two weeks, we have introduced one of the most basic constitutional principles of our government – Separation of Powers. As a refresher, the Separation of Powers doctrine is comprised of the principles and policies that shape the concept of a limited federal government vested with powers intended to protect our territorial integrity and ensure our civil rights are preserved.
 
Last week’s Keeping You Informed column addressed the Legislative Branch. This week, we turn to the Executive branch of our government, defined under Article II of the U.S. Constitution. This branch was organized by our framers with a President positioned at the apex. The first 15 words of Article II states, “[t]he executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America…”

The following sections of Article II provide unique aspects of the branch including duties, powers, removals, and eligibility requirements.
  • Article II, § 1 sets forth the Executive Powers, including the term of the President, the manner of election of the President, qualifications, succession, and the Oath of Office.  Section 1 states that “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.”  The four (4) year term of the President and the succession of an acting President are laid out in this section.  The Electors of the President shall be set forth by each State.  Currently, the process of the election of the United States President is commonly referred to as the Electoral College.  This process makes it possible for a Presidential Candidate to win the popular vote throughout the United States, but still not garner enough Electoral votes to win the Presidency.  The Electoral College, in effect, gives more power to smaller states to elect the President.
  • Article II § 2 consists of four clauses, all of which set forth the broad powers related to foreign policy, wartime policy, treaty-making power, presidential appointments to the judiciary as well as federal agency leadership, and the presidential pardon power. This section is unique – although focused on the powers of the Executive branch, it plainly demonstrates the relationship and interconnectedness of and between the Legislative and Executive branches of our government.  While the three branches of government were fashioned to operate as separate and co-equal insular silos, it is the system of checks and balances where the boundaries between the branches are slightly obscured that ensures our system of government is workable.
  • Article II, § 3 provides for various duties and responsibilities of the President, including the duty to detail the “state of the union” from time to time.  It also directs the President to convene Congress under extraordinary circumstances like an act of war or a condition of emergency.  Towards the end of Section 3, the “Take Care” clause presents itself, stating, “he shall take care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.”  It represents the primary source of expansive presidential powers to enforce laws.  The “Take Care” was a primary catalyst for the impeachments of two U.S. presidents, Andrew Johnson and William Clinton.  Notably, this Section is often interpreted to prohibit the President (and his or her subordinates) from violating federal law because such a breach contravenes the faithful execution of U.S. law. In fact, holding the title of President does not bestow the power or privilege to authorize unlawful acts nor invalidate the operation of law for even a limited time.
  • Article II, § 4 “The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” The three main elements in this Section include: (1) who may be impeached; (2) removal; and (3) grounds for removal.  The first element addresses who may be impeached.  For example, “civil Officers” of the United States are not specifically listed by their position held.  So, while the President is clearly subject to impeachment, a complete listing of “other civil Officers,” does not exist.  The second element is “removal.”  The plain language of this element infers that one must be currently holding the position of an impeachable civil Officer.  Finally, grounds for removal are listed as “[c]onviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”  Although treason and bribery are well-defined by U.S. law, “other high Crimes and Misdemeanors” can be subject to interpretation and open for debate. While this Section of Article II is considered by scholars to be ambiguous, one thing is clear: it should not be abused – the power to impeach is serious and should be treated as such.  Our Constitutional Republic is fragile and use of this almighty tool by those with evil motives pierces the heart of the great American Experience.
 
Significantly, the President of the United States is also known as the “leader of the free world.” This nomenclature is of utmost importance because America’s President, as the global leader, has consequences to the composure and balance among nation states.
 
Editor’s Note: This article is the second of a three-part series on the three branches of government and how our system of checks and balances is a fundamental doctrine of our Constitutional Republic system of government.
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Reminders & Updates

VOTE! Primary elections are happening across the country. Make sure you exercise your right to vote. Encourage your family members and friends to do the same.

NEW LOOK: America’s Future is bursting at the “online seams” with new news, fresh content, new programs and more. Don’t be surprised when you visit our website over the long holiday weekend and see our refreshed look.

Latest Amicus Brief: For information about America’s Future recent Amicus filings, please visit our Law & Policy page on our website.

America’s Mondays With Mary: Tune in every Monday morning at 9 a.m. (ET) to watch our Executive Director Mary O’Neill report out on the comments and insights submitted via our weekly Reader Survey and listen to updates about America’s Future activities and what’s ahead at America’s Mondays With Mary.

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