Apr 23, 2018 | The Informed Citizen
If you are unaware you are breaking a law, should you be held accountable? In general, the law says yes. The legal principle of ignorantia juris non excusat (ignorance of the law excuses not) or ignorantia legis neminem excusat (ignorance of law excuses no one) is...
Apr 23, 2018 | The Informed Citizen
In many countries around the world, citizens are subject to the arbitrary rulings of dictators or those in power. In the United States, even though it is never mentioned in the U.S. Constitution, citizens are governed by the concept of the rule of law, the principle...
Apr 11, 2018 | The Informed Citizen
In international relations, military might is all well and good, but sometimes a softer touch is needed—that’s where the art of diplomacy comes in. Benjamin Franklin is considered America’s first diplomat. In 1776, he was sent to France to help negotiate a treaty and...
Mar 1, 2018 | The Informed Citizen
If you’ve been paying attention over the last year, a lot has been written and speculated about the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clauses. The word emolument derives from the Latin “emolumentum,” which translates to profit or gain. The dictionary defines an emolument...
Feb 13, 2018 | The Informed Citizen
Negotiation and compromise, once keys to the legislative process, seem to be lacking in today’s Congress. Many view the legislative branch in Washington, DC as hopelessly partisan, accomplishing very little. In a speech from the Senate floor during the health care...
Nov 27, 2017 | The Informed Citizen
As you can imagine, running the country is a tough job, which is why presidents rely on members of their cabinet to advise them on difficult issues. The U.S. Constitution never mentions the term “cabinet,” but Article II, Section 2 lays out the role of the president’s...
