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What is the role of the federal government?

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    Insight into what our Founders believed and why it matters

  • Duration 3:31
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Well when it comes to the role of the federal government both candidates.

Have made their views clear and they did it during the first debate.

The federal government has the best.

To help open up opportunity and create ladders of opportunity.

And -- frameworks work the American people can succeed.

Look behind us the constitution and the declaration of independence.

The role of government is to promote and protect the principles of those documents.

First.

Life and liberty we have a responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of our people.

So with -- contrasting philosophies our next guest says it's our constitution.

That's actually hanging in the balance with this upcoming election.

-- now is the author of the new book comes -- today the naked constitution.

But the founder said why it still matters and the authors Adam Friedman.

Good to -- I love the title to things Gretchen secretary -- So it was very interesting to see the dichotomy.

During the last debate about the definition of of the constitution and you sort of sum it up as calling it the living constitution what do you mean by that.

Well that's right be the greatest threat to the constitution and we are in danger of losing the founding fathers' vision of government.

He's not really any particular politician or -- charge the greatest threat is a philosophy called the living constitution.

And it says that the constitution can change.

Of its own accord without any amendment.

It's a period it's being pushed by illegally spy -- professors and judges who were trying to convince Americans that.

The constitution changes by itself and only -- only the legal leads can explain to Americans what the constitution really means it's another recent changes as to how they see fit over time.

Based on the evolution of society for example the commerce clause -- The commerce clause is part of the enumerated powers of the federal government and it says that.

The federal government has power to stop the states from raising protectionist barriers against -- -- -- that's what.

Regulation of commerce meant.

To the founding fathers.

But over time and especially since the new deal the stream court has said that the commerce clause gives congress the power to pass any law.

They can have any effect on interstate commerce and today it's the clause that's most often used to justify.

Federal programs that.

Have no real basis in the constitution and of course the biggest one as of -- was Obama care a let's talk about the First Amendment.

And it displays -- a bit more with regard to religion how.

Let's write the.

Religion clauses are the first part of the First Amendment he was very very important the founders and the key words of the religion clause.

A lot of the First Amendment are free exercise of religion.

That means more than just being able to worship the god of your choice it means free exercise being able to -- the dictates of your religion.

And in 1990 -- the Supreme Court started to change that provision there was no amendment.

But the Supreme Court simply said state and federal governments can now infringe on religious freedom is long as they do it any kind of neutral fashion.

And today with obamacare you see a mandate that every employer even religious organizations has got to subsidize.

Abortion and contraception for their employees and their students in the case of Georgetown law school and Sandra Fluke -- we sought the Democratic Convention right.

It's very interesting and very timely book Adam Friedman is the author.

And -- -- constitutional law expert the naked constitution check it out it's on sale today thanks so much thanks for.

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