The Bill of Rights in Relation to Natural Law

---

About

4/21/2015

This class begins the second phase of the lecture series focusing on the historical background of the Constitution and its provisions, and the function and structure of it as it relates to Natural Law. This will primarily focus on the Bill of Rights (the first ten Constitutional Amendments) which are then explained in some detail.

Twelve Basic Principles should be drawn from the Constitution including:

• Its division into two parts,
• Separation of power,
• The United States is NOT a democracy,
• Checks and balances, etc., all explained in detail.

The majority of the rest of the Constitutional Amendments are discussed in some detail considering the historical implications of each one.

The division between philosophical sentiments within the framers of the Constitution, specifically Madison and Jefferson’s populist view met with Hamilton’s oligarchical viewpoint, caused disputes.

Readings:

• “The Scottish Enlightenment and the American Founding”
  • TheScottishEnlightenmentandtheAmericanFounding.pdf
• Framer of the Framers – John Witherspoon
  • JohnWitherspoonFramerOfFramers.pdf
• Natural Law and the United States Constitution – Robert S. Barker
  • NaturalLawandtheUSConstitution.pdf

Notes