James Madison, known as “The Father of the Constitution”, explained that those prominent men at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, wanted the Constitution to be understood by the American population..

Gouverneur Morris (yes, that was his name) was named as the scrivener, or the man to put the concepts that were agreed upon in the meetings, into final form. In plain English. It was his intention to write the new document so it could be easily understood by a person with an eighth grade, or similar, education.

It was considered a wonderful masterpiece that did accomplish that purpose. It was easily understood and discussed.

Fast forward to our generation in 2017. How many understand this document? How many have even read it? They’ve been talking about it in the Congressional hearings for Neil Gorsuch to be appointed to the Supreme Court. But it seems to me that everyone talks around it. Using high-fallutin words here and there, but without conversational tone, or understanding.

In my Constitutional Law class, which was required to graduate from law school, I was much surprised that we never once read the Constitution. Or the Bill of Rights. Or the Federalist Papers, which explains the clean meaning and intention of the Founders in creating this document.

Then I remembered that most of the members of Congress hadn’t had a class in Constitutional law at all (unless they were attorneys), and may have read the document once or twice, but given in no more thought—only lip service.

When Sandra Day O’Connor was nominated as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, she was asked by a member of Congress to review a transcribed 12 week course on the Constitution. She declined, saying she was an attorney, had served in the Arizona State Legislature, and had served as a Superior Court Judge. After some persuasion she did agree to listen to the transcripts. When she returned the program to the owner, she thanked him profusely. She agreed that “she didn’t know what she didn’t know!”

How many in charge of our nation are in that same boat. They don’t know what they don’t know. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights, yes, and even “The Federalist Papers” should be required reading in high school. U.S. citizens are sorely lacking in an understanding or our foundational documents. How can we keep ourselves free and safe if we don’t know what we don’t know?