What does the Constitution really promise you? In this first part of the series, Clifford Ribner breaks down the Guarantee Clause in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution—a powerful sentence that promises every state a republican form of government. This clause was not a throwaway line. It was central to the vision of the Founding Fathers, including Madison, Hamilton, and Jay, who wrote extensively about it in The Federalist Papers.

Clifford explains how the Constitution was shaped by earlier documents like the Articles of Confederation, the Magna Carta, and the English Bill of Rights, and how the Guarantee Clause was meant to protect citizen control over government. He also examines how a Supreme Court case from 1849, Luther v. Borden, blocked courts from enforcing this clause, leaving modern violations unchecked.

If you care about majority rule, checks and balances, and the proper role of government at both the state and federal levels, this matters to you. From the misuse of the Senate filibuster to the influence of public employee unions, Clifford shows how we are still living with the consequences of ignoring the Guarantee Clause.

Click here to watch Part 2.