Constitution: 4 bits of trivia

1. At no point in the constitution does it mention separation of church and state. The only place that it comes close is in the 1st Amendment; it states that congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof. The intent was to insure that we did not end up with a state religion, like in England and some other European countries. It’s purpose was not to keep religion out of the United States as evidenced by the Constitution containing the phrase “in the year of our Lord” as part of the witness/signing statement. The phrase “separation of church and state” is generally credited to Thomas Jefferson in a letter written to the Danbury Baptists.

2. Very few statements drive me more insane than hearing statements like “the President’s tax cuts” or “the President’s failed economic policy”. Article 1: Section 8 makes it very clear that congress has the power of the purse; they decide how and when money is spent. It does state in Article 2: Section 3 that the President from time to time shall recommend to the Congress’s consideration such measures, as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

3. When the delegates of the several states met it was for “the sole purpose of reviving the Articles of Confederation”, according to the Confederate Congress. Some notables didn’t even attend. One example is Patrick Henry who declined because; according to him “he smelt a rat”.

4. James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution”. He kept meticulous notes on the convention and it’s proceedings. They can be found on the Internet by googling “Madison notes”.

If you have any other bits of Constitutional trivia please add them in the comments section!