State Constitutions and the Declaration of Independence

State Constitutions and the Declaration of Independence

July 14, 2026 · 1h 4m · Episode 196

About this episode

Justice Clint Bolick discusses the integration of the Declaration of Independence into state constitutions and its implications for liberty, while Rich Ford emphasizes the importance of state and local constitutionalism.

Justice Clint Bolick argues the Declaration of Independence is woven directly into state constitutions and can be used to enforce stronger protections for liberty than the federal Constitution. Rich Ford broadens the lens, urging attention to state and local constitutionalism while warning that “natural rights” has historically supported competing visions of government power.

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