More Perfect Union Project
My American Story
My American Story ft. Natasha Srdoc
My American Story ft. Channy Chhi Laux
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents the latest episode of "My American Story" featuring Channy Chhi Laux, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide, naturalized American citizen, and Founder of Angkor Cambodian Food.
My American Story ft. John Catsimatidis
The American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents the latest episode of "My American Story" featuring self-made American Billionaire, acclaimed radio host, real estate pioneer, and investor, John Catsimatidis.
My American Story ft. David Sokol
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents the latest episode of "My American Story" featuring acclaimed entrepreneur and businessman, David Sokol
My American Story With Amy Phan West
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents "My American Story with Dr. Ben Carson" featuring communist refugee and current Westminster City Council Member in California, Amy Phan West.
My American Story With Daniel Di Martino
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents "My American Story with Dr. Ben Carson" featuring special guest and Venezuelan ex-pat, Daniel Di Martino.
My American Story With Drago Dzieran
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents "My American Story with Dr. Ben Carson" featuring special guest and anti-communist Polish immigrant turned Navy Seal, Drago Dzieran.
My American Story With Sebastian Gorka Ph.D.
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents "My American Story with Dr. Ben Carson" featuring special guest and Host of "America First" and author of "The War for America's Soul," Sebastian Gorka.
My American Story with Dr. Ben Carson feat. S. Javaid Anwar
American Cornerstone Institute proudly presents the latest episode of "My American Story with Dr. Ben Carson" featuring S. Javaid Anwar.
My American Story with Adaora Onuora
Tune in here to listen to Adaora’s fascinating story about her path to citizenship and why she loves America. Adaora originally grew up in the U.S., however, after the death of her mother, Adaora and her siblings found themselves in a complicated legal battle to remain in U.S., after their father returned to Nigeria. Adaora and her siblings persevered through tragedy and tribulation, eventually becoming legal citizens. Adaora went on to advocate for foster care children aging out of the system and inspired the Foster Youth to Independence Program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Former Secretary Carson’s leadership.
My American Story with Mrs. Lana Holder
In this episode of My American Story, Mrs. Lana Holder gives us an insider look into what it was really like growing up in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and her experience immigrating to the United States. Her story showcases Communism for what it really is and the inevitable despair, hardship, and misery it cultivates in a society. We hope you enjoy Dr. Carson and Mrs. Holder’s conversation!
My American Story with Mr. Louie Lu
Mr. Louie Lu is a Chinese American businessman who grew up in Wuhan, China under the brutal rule of Chairman Mao and immigrated to the United States in 1985 to study Physics at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. A truly inspiring ‘rags to riches’ story, Mr. Lu sits down to talk to Dr. Carson about the hardships he faced growing up in Communist China, his journey to faith, his successes in business, and why he loves America.
My American Story – Mike Rydin
Mike Rydin founded HCSS in 1986 from his bedroom and grew it into a world class, 400+ employee company leading innovation in construction software. Mr. Rydin’s story embodies the spirit of American ingenuity, driven by the free enterprise system and individual liberty; values that made this country great and that we firmly support at the American Cornerstone Institute.
My American Story with Mr. Armando Chapelli
Dr. Carson sits down with Mr. Armanado Chapelli to discuss his migration to the United States from Cuba and what it was like to grow up during Castro occupied Cuba. Stories Like Mr. Chapelli's inspire us as Americans who enjoy the luxuries of freedom and allow us to learn of the tragedies and failures of communist systems of government. We hope you enjoy!
Common Sense Solutions
The Electoral College’s Importance in American Politics
Last week, at a closed-door fundraiser hosted at California Governor Gavin Newsom’s home, Minnesota Governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz privately advocated for the elimination of the electoral college and stated the need for a national popular vote. Walz quickly tried to walk...
Prioritizing the Deportation of Dangerous Illegal Aliens via State and Local Law Enforcement
The enforcement of immigration laws is constantly plagued with lack of prioritization and funding. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal law enforcement agency tasked with combatting transnational crime and enforcing immigration laws, has been transformed under the Biden Administration to a travel facilitation agency...
The Senate Filibuster: What’s Ahead for this Tradition of Debate?
The filibuster is a parliamentary procedure in the United States Senate that allows for prolonged debate on proposed legislation, in an attempt to delay or prevent a vote on a bill. The term “filibuster” comes from the Dutch word “vrijbuiter,” meaning “pirate” or “freebooter,” which...
(Not So) Temporary Protected Status
Temporary protected status (TPS) is an immigration designation under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationalities Act (INA) that is determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security granting eligible individuals the right to “temporarily” stay in the United States. TPS is approved for countries...
President Biden’s Supreme Court Reform Plan is Unconstitutional
After President Joe Biden unveiled his unconstitutional attacks on the Supreme Court in the form of a “reform plan,” the American Cornerstone Institute is working to spread the word on why each of the three prongs of that plan is blatantly unconstitutional. This Common Sense...
Mandating the use of E-Verify to protect the integrity of America’s workforce
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made it unlawful for employers to knowingly hire and employ noncitizens who are not authorized to work in the United States. It also required employers to verify employment eligibility. The onus to verify this legal working status...
Biden’s Supreme Court “Reforms” Violate the Constitution’s Presidential Immunity Requirement
After President Joe Biden unveiled his unconstitutional attacks on the Supreme Court in the form of a “reform plan,” the American Cornerstone Institute is working to spread the word on why each of the three prongs of that plan is blatantly unconstitutional. This...
Using VISA Sanctions to Force Removals of Criminal Aliens to Recalcitrant Countries
Once an illegal alien has moved through the long, arduous deportation process, there still remains one final hurdle after final removal orders are issued. Does their home country take them back? Often, foreign countries refuse to take back their citizens for a whole host of...
The Impact of Proposed Title IX Changes on Women’s Sports
The Biden Administration’s proposed changes to Title IX regulations have faced significant controversy, particularly concerning the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. The Title IX rule changes under this Administration can be broken into two parts, the first is a published rule that went...
Immigration and Representation
The Biden administration’s failure to secure the Southern border has become a decisive issue this year, with a majority of Americans seeing the rise of illegal immigration as a critical threat, and rightly so: more than the population of 36 US states. This...
The DNC’s Presidential Candidate Earned Zero Primary Votes
Convention Delegates are usually “background actors” and political “extras” who are there to wear a donkey or elephant hat, wave the flag, and sing along to patriotic songs. In the modern age, the party nominee by the time of the convention is usually a foregone...
What is “standing,” and why is it required for a court to hear a case?
“Standing” is a bedrock principle of constitutional law and an essential element to any case that comes before the court. Standing comes from the “cases and controversies” clause in Article III of the Constitution, and it essentially requires that anyone who brings a case must...
The LGBTQI+ agenda is harming the foster care system
Despite a national shortage in foster care homes, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently enacted severely restrictive placement requirements for children who identify as “LGBTQI+.” Under these new ACF Rules, state agencies must...
An Overview of the Supreme Court’s Presidential Immunity Decision
Trump v. United States Decided July 1, 2024 Question Presented Does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct involving official acts during his time in office, and if so, to what extent? Bottom Line Up Front The Supreme Court...
ACI Legal Briefs: City of Grants Pass v. Johnson
Supreme Court Watch Argued April 22, 2024 Question Presented Does a city’s local ordinance banning public camping violate the 8th Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment? Statement of Facts and Procedural History Grants Pass is a city in Southern Oregon with about 38,000 people...
ACI Legal Briefs: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo
Supreme Court Watch Argued January 17, 2024 Question Presented Should the Supreme Court overrule its previous holding in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which requires deference to agency interpretation in the event of statutory ambiguity? If not, should the Supreme Court clarify that statutory...
Mexico’s Manchurian Candidate? The Future of Trade Relations with our Neighbors to the South
Claudia Sheinbaum former Mayor of Mexico City and leftwing environmental activist just made history as the first female elected President of Mexico. She cruised into an easy victory with a winning margin of nearly 60% of the vote. Pundits are declaring this a continuation...
The Hidden Costs of EV Ownership
As we discussed in a previous paper, the Biden administration is making an unprecedented and anti-freedom regulatory push to force consumers to take up a product they just don’t want—electric vehicles (“EVs”). Proponents of EVs often claim that slow adoption results from a lack...
ACI Legal Briefs: United States v. Rahimi
Supreme Court Watch Argued November 7, 2023 Question Presented Does 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8), which prohibits the possession of firearms by persons subject to domestic violence restraining orders, facially violate the Second Amendment? Statement of Facts and Procedural History Zackey Rahimi was convicted of possessing...
ACI Legal Briefs: Trump v. United States
Supreme Court Watch Argued April 25, 2024 Question Presented Does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct involving his official acts during his time in office, and if so, to what extent? Statement of Facts and Procedural History In August...
Homelessness before the Supreme Court
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments about the measures a city can take to prevent homelessness in a pivotal case called City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. Grants Pass is a city in Oregon of about 39,000 people, which banned camping on public property,...
Disparate Impact
This Common Sense Solutions paper will explain the “disparate impact” legal standard to our readers and demonstrate how disparate impact is an invention of the Court that erodes personal freedom, increases regulatory costs, and expands the modern bureaucratic state to root out racism—even where none...
The Biden Administration’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve Strategy Comes with High Risk in and Uncertain World
In October 1973, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) imposed an embargo against the United States in retaliation for its decision to resupply Israel during the fourth of the Arab-Israeli wars. The Yom Kippur War, as it became known, started on October 6,...
The Misguided Push for Electric Vehicles
What Should Washington Do to Stop the Latest “Viral” Threat Originating From China?
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is on a quest to dominate the United States via various economic, military, and even social means. National security threats (especially from the Chinese) come in several forms, but one in particular is gripping the nation: the incredibly popular social...
Presidential Succession Part Two: The Ratification of the 25th Amendment
This two-part Common Sense Paper explains the history of Presidential succession both prior to and following the ratification of the 25th Amendment. Part 1 focuses on the early history of Presidential succession, from the ratification of the Constitution until 1967. This paper (Part 2)...
25th Amendment: Presidential Succession, Part 1
This two-part Common Sense Paper will explain the history of presidential succession both prior to and following the ratification of the 25th Amendment. Part 1 focuses on the early history of presidential succession, from the ratification of the Constitution until 1967, which illustrated the need...
What is “Medical Aid in Dying?”
The terms assisted suicide and euthanasia are commonly used interchangeably, however, they refer to slightly different procedures. Assisted suicide involves an individual ending their natural life through self-administered lethal drugs prescribed by a physician. In contrast, euthanasia, also commonly known as mercy killing, broadly refers...
Free Speech and Political Persecution at the Supreme Court
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments for NRA v. Vullo, a case in which the National Rifle Association (NRA) alleged that its free speech rights were violated, and it was being targeted for its political views. As a background to the NRA’s claim,...
The Supreme Court’s Ruling on the 14th Amendment Challenge to President Trump’s eligibility to appear on state ballots
On Monday, the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous ruling in Trump v. Anderson that overturned the Colorado Supreme Court and rejected Colorado’s attempts to remove former President Donald Trump’s ability to appear on their state’s ballot for the presidential primary. The 14th Amendment...
Merchant Category Codes—The Next Second Amendment Battlefield
The fight over new Merchant Category Codes (“MCC”) specific to firearms businesses has been in the headlines quite a bit over the last few months. This Common Sense Paper will explain the issues surrounding MCCs and put these issues in the context of the broader...
An America First Foreign Aid Policy
The United States has often been described as a world power, a shining city on a hill, and a global leader in advancing democracy across the globe. Many phrases are used to illustrate our country’s prominence on the international stage, but when it comes to...
The Crisis on our Southern Border
Texas Governor Greg Abbott made headlines with a letter condemning the federal government for its handling of the illegal immigration crisis at our southern border. He stated that since President Biden’s inauguration, over 6 million illegal immigrants have entered the United States—exceeding the population of...
High Crimes and Misdemeanors
The U.S. Constitution lays out our system of checks and balances among the branches of the federal government as a way to ensure no branch would become too powerful. The ultimate check on the executive branch is the impeachment clause in Article II, Section 4:...
Nevada Caucus, Primary or Both? What It Means for Candidates Vying for Golden Delegates in the Silver State
Most states have either a primary or a caucus, as a method of nominating various party candidates for the general election. This year Nevada had some voters scratching their heads based on new election rules in the state. The state’s Republican party will hold a...
The Supreme Court Hears a New Second Amendment Case
In terms of constitutional law, jurisprudence regarding the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms is still relatively new. In 2008, the Supreme Court decided District of Columbia v. Heller, in which it decided that the Second Amendment did, in fact, protect...
Keep the Razor Wire Up on the Texas Border
There is a crisis at our southern border due to President Joe Biden’s failed leadership. Since President Trump left office, upwards of 6 million illegal immigrants have entered our country (a number greater than the population of most U.S. states), putting a tremendous strain on...
The Dangers of Political Prosecutions
As things currently stand, the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination and favorite in general election polls is facing indictment under 91 different counts, 44 of which came from his potential opponent’s Department of Justice. President Trump’s other charges likewise come from outspoken Democrat District...
The Colorado Supreme Court’s Removal of President Trump From the Ballot Is an Egregious Threat to the Rule of Law
On Tuesday, the Colorado State Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump was ineligible to appear on the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot due to his supposed violation of the “insurrection clause” of the 14th Amendment. This decision, which overturned a previous state appellate court...
Federalism
Federalism is a crucial concept in America’s system of constitutional government. Even though it is often undervalued and misunderstood, federalism offers distinct advantages to the American people—even to this day. Federalism refers to a structure of government that divides power between levels of authority, allowing...
The Problems with California’s Minimum Wage Increase
On September 28, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that will increase the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 per hour, starting in April of 2024. Upon taking effect, California’s fast-food workers will have the highest wage of the entire industry—and...
Speaker Mike Johnson Explainer
After 3 weeks of a vacant Speaker’s chair, the House of Representatives unanimously elected a new Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La). As the 56th Speaker of the House, Speaker Johnson will immediately face numerous challenges including government spending, illegal immigration, and the...
Israel and Hamas
As Americans watched the horrific attacks Hamas inflicted upon Israel last week, leaving over 1,400 people dead and 155 taken as hostages, many of them babies, women, and the elderly, the media zone was flooded with voices from all sides offering analysis and solutions—but, as...
Energy Independence
American energy independence is vital not just to our economic prosperity, but also to our national security. However, President Joe Biden and his administration have abandoned the policies of the Trump administration and instead prioritized things like environmental regulations and a push for electric vehicles...
Opportunity Zones and Biden’s Inaction
Among the most successful economic initiatives from the Trump administration was the Opportunity Zone program. Passed as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Opportunity Zones are low-income census-designated tracts which could now offer powerful tax incentives for private investment. These nearly...
Student Loan Debt and the Ways to Cap the Costs of College
The student loan debt crisis plays a significant role in American political discourse today, amplified by the recent Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Biden administration’s overreaching student debt forgiveness plan and subsequently proposed workarounds. Undoubtedly, student loan debt in America is...
The Principles of an America First Foreign Policy
The Preamble to the United States Constitution says that “to promote the common defense” is one of the reasons our Founders “ordain and establish this Constitution.” However, since the end of the Cold War, America’s foreign policy appears to have drifted from this straightforward objective....
The Importance of an America-First Trade Policy
For decades, the conservative stance held that free trade was an unmitigated good for our nation and our economy, no matter what the consequences might be for the American people. However, President Donald Trump threw that paradigm out the window, and championed an “America First”...
The Media’s Role in Public Perceptions of Police Violence
Trust and confidence in our nation’s police force have never been lower in America. After high-profile killings of black Americans by police in 2020 and protests and riots in their wake, a Gallup poll found for the first time that the majority of Americans...
Living Constitutionalism
In addition to textualism and originalism, there is another theory of constitutional interpretation: living constitutionalism. Living constitutionalism, sometimes called pragmatism, is often described as a more progressive method of constitutional interpretation. The primary aim of this method is to ensure that rulings always favor the...
Constitutional Interpretations
Ever since the inception of our constitutional system, there have been a wide array of different theories regarding how the Constitution ought to be interpreted. Textualism—arguably the most basic theory—holds that one ought to interpret the Constitution solely by its text. Thus, textualism requires an...
What is an Amicus Brief?
An amicus brief is a legal document that individuals or organizations submit to the court because they have an interest in the pending case, even though they are not directly a party to the case itself. The phrase “amicus brief” comes from the Latin word...
Private Funding in Elections
The integrity of our elections is paramount to a functioning democracy. There was a time in America when the Democrat Party was concerned about the influx of dollars into our elections. They argued that when wealthy individuals are allowed to deploy vast amounts of private...
A Resounding Win for Free Speech
As most Americans were grilling hot dogs in their backyard and enjoying fireworks over the 4th of July weekend to celebrate the beginning of their nation, few saw the news of another reason to celebrate: U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana issued a...
America’s Farmland: The New Battleground for National Security
For over a century, America has stood alone as the preeminent powerhouse on the world economic stage. Unsurprisingly, aspiring nations like China have yearned to expand their own influence and challenge America’s hegemony. Lately, these efforts seem like they are making progress, both overseas and...
The Case for Work Requirements to Receive Means-Tested Benefits
Expanding work requirements across government-funded benefit programs is crucial to reduce needless or fraudulent enrollments and help those on welfare programs begin the path to self-sufficiency and long-term independence. The policy goals behind these programs must emphasize that aid is given to those who need...
States Move to Limit Foreign Purchases of U.S. Housing Stock
Homeownership is essential to a strong middle class, and a stable housing market is crucial for a strong economy. At the end of the day, purchasing a home is the biggest investment nearly any individual will make in their entire lives. Homes offer families a...
Housing First Has Failed Our Most Vulnerable
It’s long past time we rethink our national approach to homelessness and realize as a nation that the government policy of “housing first” has not achieved the results it has promised. In fact, despite spending billions of taxpayer dollars, homelessness across the United States has...
What does the 14th Amendment have to do with the debt ceiling? Nothing, despite some Senate Democrats’ suggestions otherwise.
The debt limit is the amount of money the government is authorized to borrow in order to meet its existing legal obligations. The current legal debt limit is $31.4 trillion, and since January 19, 2023 the Department of Treasury has engaged in “extraordinary measures”...
“BRICS” Alliance Seeking to Shatter the Dollar’s Mantle of Dominance
The idea of combining multiple regions together to create a larger economic force is not a new concept by any means. However, statements from Russian Duma Deputy Chairman Alexander Babakov has caused intrigue and sparked a fear of global de-dollarization. At a recent international...
TIK TOK: Time is running out to stop malignant Chinese influence
It is no secret that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) currently stands as one of the greatest adversaries staring down the United States. Not a day goes by where the CCP is not actively trying to undermine and challenge the American way of life. The...
Climate Change Rhetoric
In an appearance on The Daily Show, President Joe Biden addressed climate change and said, “That whole generation is damned. It’s not hyperbole. Really, truly in trouble.” Scientists were quick to call out his rhetoric as actual hyperbole and point out that this inflammatory...
The FDIC AND THE FIGHT FOR FREE MARKET IDEALS
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) is an independent agency created by Congress in 1933 during the Great Depression to maintain stability and public confidence in the nation’s financial system. The FDIC insures deposits, examines, and supervises financial institutions for safety, soundness, and consumer protection,...
The Perils of Affirmative Action
Our nation was founded upon, in the words of the Declaration of Independence, the “self-evident” truth that “all men are created equal.” As such, Americans know that each and every one of us is “endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” among which are...
The Perils of ESG
For decades, maximizing shareholder value was the dominant theme for investors but its dominance has given way in recent years to stakeholder capitalism – the idea that a corporation should meet the needs of all its stakeholders, including the community and society as a whole,...
School Choice
Last year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test scores marked some of the steepest declines ever measured by the test in terms of national average scores in math for both 4th and 8th graders. For 4th grade math, one in four students scored...
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a scourge on our society in which predators prey on vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children, and use force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor, services, or even commercial sex acts. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and affects hundreds of thousands of...
Election Integrity Measures
After widespread irregularities in the 2020 presidential election and problems in the 2022 midterms, Americans are rightly concerned about the integrity of our electoral process. According to polling data, only 42 percent of Americans have confidence that our elections truly reflect the will of...
Continuing Resolutions and the Budgetary Process
Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution requires that “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law…” A powerful check on the executive branch, the Framers of the Constitution wanted to ensure the executive could not spend...
An innovative solution to the Fentanyl crisis plaguing our nation
While President Joe Biden was speaking to reporters before visiting a new computer chip plant in Arizona, the commander-in-chief made clear that securing the U.S. southern border is not a priority for his administration. When asked why he wouldn’t go to the U.S.-Mexico border –...
Illegal Immigration and our Southern Border
After four years of stability on our southern border due to the Trump Administration’s America first policies, the illegal immigration crisis is back with a vengeance—and it’s all Joe Biden’s doing. Since President Biden took office, about 5 million illegal immigrants have crossed our...
WHY ARE ELECTION RESULTS KNOWN IN SOME STATES QUICKLY BUT NOT IN OTHERS?
There is no federal law that mandates how—and more importantly when—state and local officials are required to tabulate results after an election. Therefore, each state has separate processes and procedures on how this is done, which creates a problematic patchwork of different rules and regulations...
Why is there a surge in violent crime across America?
Crime has become the new pandemic. Sweeping across America seemingly unstoppable, random and unprovoked attacks with no rhyme or reason are stoking fear amongst the masses. Major cities across America are reporting a 50% increase in homicides since 2019, and a 36% increase...
Why Border States are busing Apprehended Aliens to Major Metropolitan Cities?
The Biden Administration on day one reinstituted the failed Democrat policy of “Catch and Release” which is as simple and destructive as it sounds. Border patrol or law enforcement catches illegals trying to cross the border, briefly detains them, takes their information and releases them...
Civics and history are too often forgotten or overlooked in the 21st Century.
To reunite our country, we must fix this. American Cornerstone Institute’s A More Perfect Union Project aims to better equip Americans to govern themselves, the way the founders intended.The Read The Constitution Challenge
While the Constitution and its amendments are less than 20 pages, many have not read it since they were required to in school. Much of the text is straight forward. John Adams said, “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people.” Please take some time to re-read our Constitution and reflect on how it relates to issues facing our nation today.
The Read The Declaration Challenge
President Lincoln called the Declaration of Independence the “immortal emblem of humanity.” It is quite literally the founding document of our nation and the signers pledged “to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Please take some time to re-read our Declaration of Independence and reflect on how it relates to today’s political environment.
Previous Participants
Prof. Eugene Volokh
David Azerrad
Senator Jim DeMint
Jon Voight
