Constitutional and Legal Issues

The Journal of The James Madison Institute

"Credit James Madison for ‘Full Faith and Credit’"
by Thomas V. DiBacco
Winter 2009 Journal

"Recent Merit-Selection Reform Can Improve Florida’s Courts"
by William Large
Winter 2009 Journal

"Government Policies Led to Wall Street’s Risky Business"
by Randall G. Holcombe
Winter 2009 Journal

"Beware When Government Runs Both Politics and the Economy'"
by J. Robert McClure
Winter 2009 Journal

"A Historian’s Analysis: The Origins of the 'Blaine Amendment'"
by Thomas V. DiBacco
Summer 2008 Journal

"An Analysis for Florida Voters: November’s 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 Constitutional Amendments"
JMI Staff
Summer 2008 Journal

"An Ally in the Fight Against Judicial Activism"
by Chris Sprowls
Winter/Spring 2008 Journal

"Why Term Limits Cause Problems"
by Rep. Dan Gelber
Winter/Spring 2008 Journal

"Why Term Limits Are Needed"
by George Blumel
Winter/Spring 2008 Journal

"Hometown Democracy Amendment: A Surefire Way to Cause More Election-Day Havoc"
by Ryan Houck
Fall 2007 Journal

"Why Florida Needs Property Tax Limits"
by Randall G. Holcombe
Fall 2007 Journal

"How an Obscure Florida Law Creates Pain at the Gas Pump"
by Adam S. Goldman
Summer 2007 Journal

"'Only God Can Change the Supreme Court'"
by Thomas V. DiBacco
Spring 2007 Journal

"Bring Competition to Cable TV"
by Dianne S. Katz
Spring 2007 Journal

"Why Florida Needs to Act Now to Save School Choice Programs"
by Jeanne Curtin
Spring 2007 Journal

"The Debate Over School Standards: Feds vs. States"
by Liam Julian
Fall 2006 Journal

"Tom Jefferson Wrote the Book on Impeachment"
by Thomas V. DiBacco
Fall 2006 Journal

"The Case for an Independent Jusiciary"
by Jim Hampton
Fall 2006 Journal

"Amendment Eight: Slamming the Door on Kelo"
by J. B. Ruhl
Fall 2006 Journal

"Amendments Six and Seven: Selective Tax Relief"
by Mark S. Pritchett
Fall 2006 Journal

"Amendment Four: Special Intrests Blowing Smoke"
by Adam Goldman
Fall 2006 Journal

"Amendment Three: Two Good Teams, Family Ties"
by Robert F. Sanchez
Fall 2006 Journal

"Amendment One: Protecting Florida's Fiscal Fitness"
by Robert B. Bradley
Fall 2006 Journal

"Education Matters! Informing Floridians About Proposed Constitutional Amendments"
by Susan A. MacManus
Fall 2006 Journal

"When Unaccountable Courts Meet Dysfunctional Schools"
by Frederick M. Hess
Summer 2006 Journal

"The Courts as a Cash Cow for Florida's Trial Lawyers"
by Robert "Jake" Bebber
Summer 2006 Journal

"The Activist Journey of the Florida Supreme Court"
by Colleen Pero
Summer 2006 Journal

"A Defense of Conservatives' Views of the Courts"
by Jason Gonzalez
Summer 2006 Journal

"Our Nation's Founders Wanted an Independent Judiciary"
by Major B. Harding
Summer 2006 Journal

"Preserving the Constitution: Parchment and Principles"
by Robert F. Sanchez
Summer 2006 Journal

"A Former Attorney General's Wise Counsel on the Courts"
by Edwin Meese III
Summer 2006 Journal

"The Agony and Ecstasy of the Early Supreme Court"
by Dr. Thomas V. DiBacco
Summer 2006 Journal

"Why the Court Was Wrong on Vouchers"
by Clark Neily
Winter/Spring 2006 Journal

"The Role of the Judiciary in a Democratic Republic"
by Edwin Meese
Spring 2005 Journal

"Devolving Power from Washington, DC to the States"
by Fred Barnes and Grover Norquist
Spring 2005 Journal

"A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution"
Book Review by Peter Schorsch
Spring 2005 Journal

Morality and the Rule of Law
by Kenneth L. Connor
Spring 2005 Journal

"Florida's Politicized Constitutional Amendment Process: An Overview"
by Susan MacManus
Spring 2005 Journal

The Journal of The James Madison Institute
by various authors
Winter 2005 Journal

The Journal of The James Madison Institute
Special edition covering the 2004 Proposed Consitutional Amendments
by various authors
Fall 2004 Journal

"Implementing Florida’s Constitutional Amendments: Truth and Consequences"
by Susan A. MacManus
Spring 2003 Journal

"Is There a Doctor in the House?"
by James C. McDowell
Winter 2003 Journal

"Problem of Torts: Need for Reform?"
by Charles M. Trippe
Summer 2002 Journal

"American Journalism and the Constitution"
by Tony Snow
Spring 2002 Journal

"The Role of the Judiciary in a Democratic Republic"
by Edwin Meese
Fall 2001 Journal

"Restitution As an Objective of the Criminal Justice System"
by Bruce L. Benson
Winter 2001 Journal

"Attorneys’ Fees Rip-Off "
by Tait Trussell
Summer 2000 Journal

"The Good Son"
by Ray Wisher
November/December 1999 Journal

"The Answers Are Simple: Admitting Them is Hard"
by Ray Wisher
July/August 1999 Journal

"Florida’s Unethical Tobacco Deal"
by Randall G. Holcombe
May/June 1999 Journal

"Playing at Being Bad"
by Ray Wisher
January/February 1999 Journal

"An Idea That Works"
by Martha W. Barnett
September/October 1998 Journal

"A Bad Idea Gets Worse"
by Kenneth L. Connor
September/October 1998 Journal

"Kids Killing Kids"
by Ray Wisher
September/October 1998 Journal

"Book Review: Out of Order: Arrogance, Corruption, and Incompetence on the Bench"
by John F. Lowndes
September/October 1998 Journal

"Broken Trust"
by Ray Wisher
July/August 1998 Journal

Backgrounders

"The Case for Florida to Enact A Taxpayer Protection Amendment"
by Dr. Barry Poulson
Backgrounder #54, December 2007

"Florida's Fiscal Constitution: Opportunities for Reform"
by Randall Holcombe
Backgrounder #50, February 2007

"Property Rights At Risk?"
by J. B. Ruhl
Backgrounder #46, September 2005

"Public Employee Collective Bargaining: The Florida Experience"
by Robert "Jake" Bebber
Backgrounder #45, August 2005

"Florida’s Constitutional Ballot Initiatives: Is This Any Way To Run a Government?"
by Douglas S. Bailey
Backgrounder #39, May 2003 

"Eleven Steps to a Safer Florida: How to Stop the Violent Crime Epidemic"
by Mary Kate Cary
Backgrounder #12, January 1994

Point of Views

Government Policies Encouraged Wall Street's Risky Business
by Randall Holcombe
September 24, 2008

Letter to the Editor: Regarding "The Business of Green"
by J. Robert McClure, III
May 6, 2008

Court's Blown Call Caused Property Tax Woes
by Robert F. Sanchez
March 1, 2007

Bring Competition to Cable TV in Florida
by John Hallman
December 1, 2006

Life after Amendment 8
by J. Robert McClure, III and Tanja Clendinen
November 1, 2006

Is Anti-Wal-Mart Legislation Good for Us?
by Randall Holcombe
June 1, 2006

Reform Social Security to Tame a Tsunami of Red Ink
by J. Robert McClure, III
April 1, 2006

Why Florida Needs "Paycheck Protection"
by S. Alex Boehler
April 1, 2006

Business Has Issues for the 2006 Legislature
by Robert F. Sanchez
Fedruary 7, 2006

A Better Approach to Hurricane Recovery
by Forest Thigpen and J. Robert McClure, III
November 29, 2005

If Power Corrupts, What About Unions?
by George C. Leef
October 17, 2005

Happy Constitution Day, America
by Robert F. Sanchez
September 16, 2005

Public Employee Unions: 'Political Kryptonite'
by Robert F. Sanchez
September 6, 2005

It's Time to Fight 'Judicial Imperialism'
by Carlos Muniz
August 17, 2005

School Choice and the Blaine Game
by Patrick Cox
January 18, 2005

Just Say "No" To Petition Initiatives
by Kelly Layman
August 15, 2002

Be Careful...You Might Not Get What You Wish For
by Edwin Moore
August 8, 2002

Lying About Infrastructure Costs: Implications for Florida High-Speed Rail
by Wendell Cox
July 24, 2002

Teachers Union Selling Out Its Members In Constitutional Amendment Drive
by Gary Landry
July 15, 2002

The Sorcerer's Apprentice
by Peter Doherty
July 2, 2002

Those With Nothing To Hide Have Nothing To Fear
by Peter Doherty
June 27, 2002

Transit's 40-Year Record Low
by Wendell Cox
June 13, 2002

High Speed Rail:  All Are Not Aboard
by Kelly Layman
January 2, 2002

Lawsuits or Legislation?
by Edwin Moore
December 21, 2000

Would You Want a Train in Your Backyard?
by Edwin Moore
October 13, 2000

Legislature Slows Spending Machine
by John R. Smith
May 1, 1996

Determining Gubenatorial Incapacity: It's Time To Reform The Florida Constitution
by Daniel F. Walker
February 1, 1996