Tag: constitutional republic

Groupthink and Identity Tribalism Damage Our Constitutional Republic

Commentary At the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Elizabeth Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin whether the newly declared nation of the United States was a republic or a monarchy. Dr. Franklin replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.” At the time, the central thesis of America’s public policy discourse was preoccupied with devising the world’s…


California City Declared Constitutional Republic to Shake COVID Mandates

SANTA CLARA, Calif.—A Northern California city declared itself a constitutional republic in November after disagreeing with COVID-19 mandates. The declaration symbolically affirms citizens’ inalienable rights as the state extends emergency health orders and issues a new round of state-wide mask mandates. Scott Thomson, vice mayor of Oroville, has been the main proponent. He said the…