Omar Bennett
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) is a US-based organisation that aims to educate citizens about the country's constitution. The NCCS has been described as a beacon of constitutional enlightenment and is committed to publishing books and resources that illuminate the principles of freedom and human rights. The NCCS has also been criticised for its controversial claims, such as that the US Constitution was derived from a governmental system adopted by Moses and that the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, violated states' rights. While the NCCS does not explicitly identify as a Christian organisation, it has been associated with conservative and religious groups, and its teachings draw on religious texts and figures, such as Moses and the Anglo-Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1971 |
| Original name | The Freeman Institute |
| Purpose | To unearth the foundational principles of societal harmony that birthed and will perpetuate freedom in any society rooted in them |
| Current chairman and CEO | Zeldon Nelson |
| Previous chairmen | W. Cleon Skousen, John L. Harmer, Earl Taylor Jr. |
| Publications | The 5,000 Year Leap, The Making of America, Behind the Bill of Rights |
| Allies | John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, the Oath Keepers, Glenn Beck |
| Educational objectives | Constitutional seminars, workshops, and evening gatherings |
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What You'll Learn
The NCCS's educational role
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) was founded in 1971, originally known as The Freeman Institute. Its purpose is to uphold the foundational principles of societal harmony that underpin freedom in any society. The NCCS believes that these principles are enshrined in the writings of the Founding Fathers, particularly the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
The NCCS has published several impactful books, including "The 5000 Year Leap" and "The Making of America," which gained popularity through endorsements by media personalities like Glenn Beck. "The Making of America" caused controversy in California in 1987 due to its inclusion of racist quotes and pro-slavery sentiments. Despite this, the NCCS continues to distribute its books and ideas through various Tea Party-affiliated groups.
NCCS seminars and workshops provide a deep dive into America's Great Success Formula, exploring the insights and principles of luminaries such as Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Franklin, and Washington. These events aim to educate participants about the key principles governing human interaction and the creation of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
The NCCS also distributes pocket constitutions to schools, the military, private citizens, and other groups. These pocket constitutions are small, easy to read, and reasonably priced, making them accessible educational tools for students and individuals interested in learning more about the U.S. Constitution.
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The NCCS's organisational allies
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) has found several organisational allies among "constitutionalist" groups. These include the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. The NCCS has also gained support from media personalities such as Glenn Beck, a Mormon himself, who used his platform on Fox News to promote NCCS books and ideas. Beck's advocacy helped bring attention to previously lesser-known NCCS tracts, such as "The 5,000 Year Leap," which became unexpected bestsellers.
The rise of the Tea Party Movement further boosted the NCCS's popularity, with Tea Party-affiliated groups like the 9.12 Project and the Tea Party Patriots expressing increased interest in the NCCS. NCCS lecturers regularly hold seminars across the United States, spreading the NCCS's ideas and interpretations of the Constitution.
One of the more controversial moments in the history of the NCCS and its allies was the controversy surrounding the NCCS-published textbook "The Making of America" by W. Cleon Skousen in 1987. The book included quotes from a 1934 essay by historian Fred Albert Shannon that described black children as "pickaninnies" and made claims justifying slavery. This incident sparked outrage and brought attention to the ideologies promoted by the NCCS and its organisational allies.
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The NCCS's controversial textbook
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), founded by Latter-day Saint political writer W. Cleon Skousen, is a conservative, religious-themed organization. The NCCS asserts that the founding of the United States was a divine miracle and its worldview and program are based on two central tenets: understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the US to thrive, and rejecting what it views as the modern US federal government's "sinful" deviations from this path.
In 1987, the NCCS published a textbook titled "The Making of America", written by W. Cleon Skousen. The book sparked controversy due to its racist content. It included quotes from a 1934 essay on slavery by Fred Albert Shannon, describing black children as "pickaninnies". The book also claimed that white slave owners were "the worst victims of slavery" and that life for white Southerners was a "nightmare" due to the fear of slave rebellions. Despite the backlash, California's bicentennial commission initially approved the sale of the book as a fundraising device for the 200th anniversary of the US Constitution. However, this decision was later reversed, and the commission issued an apology, acknowledging their error in judgment.
The NCCS has also faced criticism for its extreme ideological views. At an NCCS seminar in 2010, participants were told that the US Constitution was derived from a governmental system adopted by Moses and later by the legendary Anglo-Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa, and then copied by Thomas Jefferson. Additionally, the NCCS has been criticized for its interpretation of the 19th Amendment, claiming that granting women the right to vote violated states' rights.
The NCCS has found support among various constitutionalist groups, including the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. Media personalities like Glenn Beck have also promoted NCCS books and ideas, contributing to the popularity of certain NCCS tracts, such as "The 5,000 Year Leap". The NCCS has seen a surge in interest from Tea Party-affiliated groups, and its lecturers regularly conduct seminars across the United States.
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The NCCS's religious influences
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) was founded in 1971 as The Freeman Institute, with the goal of unearthing the foundational principles of societal harmony that birthed freedom in American society. The NCCS has been dedicated to publishing books and resources that illuminate the principles fostering freedom and safeguarding human rights.
The NCCS also aligns with conservative Christian values in some of its teachings. For example, they have taught that the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, violated states' rights. This interpretation reflects a traditionalist view of gender roles that has often been associated with religious conservatism.
Additionally, the NCCS has published controversial textbooks, such as "The Making of America" by W. Cleon Skousen, which included racist descriptions of black children and defended slave owners as "the worst victims of slavery." While not explicitly religious, these ideas have been used to justify racial segregation and have been promoted by some religious groups in the past.
The NCCS has found organizational allies among conservative and religious groups, including the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. The NCCS has also gained support from media personalities like Glenn Beck, a Mormon who promoted NCCS books and ideas on his platform.
Overall, while the NCCS does not explicitly identify as a Christian organization, its interpretations of the Constitution, conservative values, and alliances with religious groups suggest a significant influence of religious ideology in its teachings and principles.
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The NCCS's stance on the 19th Amendment
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) is a conservative group that has found allies among other "constitutionalist" organisations such as the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. The NCCS has been described as Christian nationalist, and its stances are influenced by Mormonism.
The NCCS has a specific stance on the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees women's suffrage. The NCCS believes that by giving women the right to vote, the 19th Amendment violated states' rights. This view was expressed at an NCCS seminar in 2010, where participants were also told that the US Constitution was derived from a governmental system adopted by Moses and later by the legendary Anglo-Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa, and then copied by Thomas Jefferson.
The 19th Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, was the result of a long and hard-fought women's suffrage movement in the United States. Activists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Lucretia Mott played a crucial role in advocating for women's right to vote. The amendment was first introduced in Congress in 1878 but was rejected in 1887. It wasn't until 1919 that the amendment finally passed in Congress and was submitted to the states for ratification.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) is an organization that aims to teach, research, write, produce and distribute materials to promote constitutional government. It was founded in 1971, originally known as The Freeman Institute.
The NCCS believes in the "Freedom Formula", which is the idea that there are foundational principles of societal harmony that foster freedom and safeguard human rights. They believe these principles are enshrined in documents like the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
The NCCS does not explicitly identify as a Christian organization, but it has been associated with conservative and religious groups, such as the John Birch Society and the Eagle Forum. The NCCS has also been supported by Mormon media personality Glenn Beck.
The NCCS holds educational seminars, workshops, and gatherings to promote their interpretation of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They also publish books, such as "The 5000 Year Leap" and "The Making of America", which have been criticized for containing racist content.
