Federal Public Land Ownership in Utah—Feudalism vs. Federalism
In a throwback to English feudalism, the United States Government currently claims ownership of over 60% of Utah’s land mass and even higher portions of land in many other western states. The vast ownership and retention of land...
The Commerce Clause: Or How the Federal Government Came to Control (Almost) Everything
Earlier this year the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Sandifer v. United States Steel Corp. At issue was whether employees must be paid for time spent donning and doffing protective work clothing. The Court ultimately held that...
It’s “Stupid” to Rely on Judges to Protect Our Rights
During a recent public event, Justice Antonin Scalia of the Supreme Court was asked about the NSA’s surveillance programs, made public through the leaks provided by Edward Snowden. While conveying concern about judges...
Nullification: How it Should and Shouldn’t Be Used
Part I:What Nullification Should Not Be Nullification means many things to many people. Perhaps the most extreme version is when a state passes a law purporting to override a federal law. Last year, for example, Missouri nearly...
HJR7: Requiring Staff Attorneys to Highlight Federalism Implications of Legislation
This bill, as a substitute, passed the House 55-19 but was not considered in the Senate. Visit our Legislative Index to see the final vote rankings for the 2014 general session. Libertas Institute supports this bill. When...
Using the Government Shutdown to Our Advantage
On October 1, 2013, the supposed “shutdown” (better referenced as a “slimdown”) began. While competing political factions bicker over who’s to blame, and while the public demands resolution, an interesting conversational point...