Category Archives: American Government
These two videos are part of a series on the History of the Office of Sheriff and the Constitutional Authority of Elected Executives. Recorded at the 2016 SC Tea Party Coalition Conference at Myrtle Beach, I explore the Common Law history of the Office and the authority that has been vested in constitutional officers. It’s important for those of us in the law enforcement profession to know our roots and the foundation of our authority.
The International Academy of Public Safety is in the process of incorporating this curriculum into the Sheriff’s Institute for Credible Leadership Development, the online leadership academy of the National Sheriff’s Association.
As crazy as it sounds, it’s true! And it’s the reason I haven’t posted any training videos for the last couple of weeks. I am curtailing my mission in Afghanistan and starting my journey home tomorrow (Jan 20). There is a perfect storm of an opportunity back home to run in a special election for the First Congressional District in SC. That’s the seat vacated by Tim Scott when he was appointed by Governor Nikki Haley to fill the unexpired term of Senator Jim DeMint. This short video explains some of my reasons for running and the principles that I will apply to governmental decisions should I be elected. Most of you know that I support the Founder’s view of a Constitutionally limited republic.
There are a few things that my faithful Police Dynamics followers can do to help. First of all, go to the Charleston GOP website and vote for me in the straw poll. Right now, I lead the pack after only being listed as a candidate for the last 48 hours or so. But a comfortable margin would send a strong message that I am a serious contender for this seat.
Secondly, go to my campaign page on FaceBook and “like” it. You can also follow all of the campaign happenings as they unfold. Former Governor Mark Sanford is in the race so it promises to be interesting to say the least.
And of course I can always use encouragement, support, and prayers. If you live in the First District, I also want your vote!
This will be an all-out sprint to the primary on March 19, then the runoff and special general election in the weeks afterward. So it is unlikely that I will be able to give much attention to the Police Dynamics site until after all of this is over.
Let’s send a Sheriff to Congress…!
Sheriff Ray Nash
Candidate for First Congressional District
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“We should never despair, our Situation before has been unpromising and has changed for the better, so I trust, it will again. If new difficulties arise, we must only put forth new Exertions and proportion our Efforts to the exigency of the times.” — George Washington, 1777
“Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.”
— Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833
“My construction of the constitution is very different from that you quote. It is that each department is truly independent of the others, and has an equal right to decide for itself what is the meaning of the constitution in the cases submitted to its action; and especially, where it is to act ultimately and without appeal.” — Thomas Jefferson, letter to Samuel Adams Wells, 1819
The theory of limited government contends that all power exercised by the government is derived from the people. The people delegate to government those powers that they would otherwise exercise individually to protect their lives, liberties, and properties. The “limit” on government is what is delegated. Whatever power the people have delegated, the government can legitimately exercise. It may not exercise powers not delegated. In this way, no citizen is subject to power that he has not (in theory) consented to. While written constitutions and representative elections are never unanimous, the will of the majority of the people substitutes for unanimous consent.
From the article: But Don’t Libyans Have a Right to Freedom Too?
Although I haven’t read it, you may also want to check out his book, A Return to Common Sense: Reawakening Liberty in the Inhabitants of America.
George Washington said, “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master…” This quote underscores the danger of a government extending beyond its constitutional boundaries.
In this short video, we not only explore the principles relating to the protections afforded by the Constitution and our responsibility to keep the federal government within the confines of its limitations, but we answer a very important question to our understanding of constitutional authority: “Is it possible for one citizen to violate the constitutional rights of another?” The answer may surprise you…
To expand on Washington’s metaphor, if you view the government as fire, then the Constitution can be viewed as the fireplace, the structure that keeps the fire in it’s proper place.
Note of Appreciation: This is the last video in our Foundations of American Government series. Thanks for bearing with me on this lengthy study. Next week, I will resume some of our more traditional police and character-related posts…
How did America get in the mess it’s in? Why is there abortion on demand in every state? Why can’t the Ten Commandments be displayed at the Alabama State Supreme Court? Why can’t the City Council of Gray Court, SC begin with prayer? Why can’t a nativity scene be placed on the Town Square? Why can’t kids pray in public school? Why has the federal government intruded into so many areas that were intended to be under the sole jurisdictions of the states?
Regardless of how you feel about these issues, this fact is clear: the Bill of Rights originally only applied to the federal government which functioned with very limited and clearly defined authority. There are two pivotal dates in American history that changed all this: the end of the War Between the States in 1865 and the Everson v. Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court in 1947.
Those of you who have attended Series 2 of the Police Dynamics training program may remember these definitions from the Dynamic of Jurisdictions:
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Authority – the right to impose obligations on the time and resources of another
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Jurisdiction – limitations on that authority