U.S. Constitution Archives | American Democracy Minute

Arkansas Congressional District Racial Gerrymandering Case Dismissed by Federal Court Panel

June 8, 2025June 8, 2025

A three-judge panel dismissed a case June 6th by a group of Black Arkansas voters that the state legislature racially gerrymandered Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District. It’s the state’s fourth redistricting challenge since 2021.

Looking for a Presidential Pardon? Loyalty and Endorsements are Apparently More Important Than Political Corruption

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025

President Donald Trump recently announced pardons to a range of individuals, including convicted drug dealers, fraudsters, and . . . convicted public officials. ABC New reports 1 in 5 have political or financial ties to the president.

Michigan GOP’s ‘Independent State Legislature Theory’ Case Rebuffed by U.S. Supreme Court

May 22, 2025May 22, 2025

The “Independent State Legislature Theory” met a skeptical U.S. Supreme Court in 2023 in Moore v. Harper, a North Carolina gerrymandering case. The Michigan GOP tried to employ the fringe theory to undo Michigan’s Question 2 citizen initiative, but the U.S. Supreme Court refused the case May 19th.

The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause was Intended to Stop Bribery and Corruption. Recently, Not So Much.

May 14, 2025May 14, 2025

This is a timely rebroadcast of a piece we did last November on the emoluments clause. The numbers quoted are chump change compared with the money being thrown at President Donald Trump by foreign countries right now in bitcoin, sweetheart investments and even a luxury Boeing 747. What would the framers have said?

Cockpit Lights Flash Emoluments Clause Danger, as Qatar Government Apparently Gifts $400M 747 to Trump for Air Force One

May 12, 2025May 12, 2025

President Donald Trump appears poised to accept a gift of a $400 million dollar super luxury Boeing 747 from the Qatar royal family for use as Trump’s Air Force One. The potential gift is raising questions of potential corruption under the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, and a potential security risk.