The National Center For Constitutional Studies: Conservative Or Liberal?

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) is a group dedicated to publishing books and conducting seminars that promote its interpretation of the US Constitution and the principles of freedom and human rights. The NCCS has been described as conservative, and has found allies among constitutionalist groups such as the John Birch Society and the Oath Keepers. The NCCS has also been criticised for promoting controversial interpretations of the Constitution, such as the claim that the 19th Amendment—which gave women the right to vote—violated states' rights.

Explore related products

The Adaptability Paradox: Political Inclusion and Constitutional Resilience (Chicago Studies in American Politics)

$26 $25.99

The Constitution of the United States

$1.5

The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence

$1.99 $6.95

Religion and the American Constitutional Experiment 5E

$45.99 $47.99

Constitutional Courts and Judicial Review: Between Law and Politics (Hart Studies in Constitutional Theory)

$135 $135

The Specter of Dictatorship: Judicial Enabling of Presidential Power (Stanford Studies in Law and Politics)

$25.55 $28

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) is conservative and religious

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), formerly The Freemen Institute, is a conservative and religious organization. The NCCS was founded by Latter-day Saint political writer W. Cleon Skousen, a professor at Brigham Young University. Skousen organized an off-campus institute for constitutional studies in 1967, which was formally named The Freemen Institute in 1971. The NCCS worldview and program are based on two major pillars: understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive, and rejecting what it views as the modern U.S. federal government's "sinful deviations" from that divine mold.

The NCCS holds that the founding of the United States was a divine miracle. At a 2010 seminar, participants were told that the Constitution was derived from a governmental system adopted by Moses and later by the legendary Anglo-Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa, before being copied by Thomas Jefferson. The NCCS also espouses controversial views on constitutional amendments, such as claiming that the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, violated states' rights.

The NCCS has published several books, including "The Making of America" by W. Cleon Skousen, which sparked controversy in California in 1987 due to its racist content and portrayal of slavery. Another book, "The 5,000 Year Leap," became a bestseller after receiving advocacy from Glenn Beck, a Mormon himself, who promoted NCCS ideas on his Fox News platform.

The NCCS has found organizational allies among "constitutionalist" groups, including the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. The center is committed to civic education and conducts seminars across the United States to advance its educational objectives and illuminate the principles of freedom and human rights.

NCCS believes the US founding was a divine miracle

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), formerly known as The Freemen Institute, is a conservative, religious-themed organization founded by Latter-day Saint political writer W. Cleon Skousen. According to the NCCS, the founding of the United States was a divine miracle. This belief forms the basis of the NCCS worldview and program, which has two major pillars: understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive, and rejecting the deviations of the modern U.S. federal government from that divine mold, which the NCCS sometimes deems to be tyrannical or sinful.

The NCCS's belief that the U.S. founding was a divine miracle is reflected in its educational programs and publications. The center conducts seminars across the United States, with topics such as the Constitution's foundations in divine guidance and natural law. One of its most recent publications, "Behind the Bill of Rights" (2022), delves into the first ten amendments of the Constitution, exploring the principles of natural law that underlie each amendment.

The NCCS also publishes books that promote its conservative and religious worldview. One such book is "The Making of America" by W. Cleon Skousen, which sparked controversy in California in 1987 due to its inclusion of racist content. Another book, "The 5,000 Year Leap," became a bestseller after receiving endorsement from conservative media personality Glenn Beck. This book, along with other NCCS publications, has gained traction among Tea Party Movement-affiliated groups, further spreading the NCCS's influence and impact on conservative thought in the United States.

The NCCS's belief in the divine miracle of the U.S. founding has led to its association with other conservative and "constitutionalist" groups. In 2011, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported that the NCCS had found new organizational allies, including the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. The NCCS has also been criticized for its interpretation of the Constitution and its amendments. For example, at an NCCS seminar in 2010, participants were told that the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, violated states' rights.

In summary, the NCCS's belief that the founding of the United States was a divine miracle shapes its educational and publishing endeavors, contributes to its conservative and religious worldview, and has fostered alliances with other conservative groups. The NCCS's interpretation of the Constitution and its amendments, however, has sparked controversy and criticism.

NCCS views the federal government as deviating from a divine mould

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), formerly known as The Freemen Institute, is a conservative, religious-themed organization. It was founded by Latter-day Saint political writer W. Cleon Skousen, a professor at Brigham Young University. According to the NCCS, the founding of the United States was a divine miracle.

The NCCS worldview and program are based on two major pillars: understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive, and rejecting what it views as the modern U.S. federal government's deviation from that divine mould. This deviation is sometimes viewed by the NCCS as tyrannical or sinful.

At a 2010 seminar, participants were told that the 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. This belief in the divine origin of the Constitution is a central tenet of the NCCS worldview. They see the Constitution as a sacred document that embodies the Freedom Formula that their forefathers fought for.

The NCCS has published several books and resources that promote their interpretation of the Constitution and the principles of freedom and human rights. One such book, "The Making of America" by W. Cleon Skousen, caused controversy in California in 1987 due to its racist content and defense of slavery. Another book, "The 5,000-Year Leap", became a bestseller after being promoted by Glenn Beck on his Fox News platform.

The NCCS has found organizational allies among other "constitutionalist" groups, such as the John Birch Society, the Eagle Forum, and the Oath Keepers. They have also gained support from Tea Party-affiliated groups and have conducted seminars across the United States to spread their message.

Explore related products

The Politics of Principle: The First South African Constitutional Court, 1995–2005 (Cambridge Studies in Constitutional Law, Series Number 6)

$62.06 $72

Political Foundations of Judicial Supremacy: The Presidency, the Supreme Court, and Constitutional Leadership in U.S. History (Princeton Studies in American Politics)

$28.01 $45

The Federalist Frontier: Settler Politics in the Old Northwest, 1783-1840 (Studies in Constitutional Democracy)

$26 $26

Politics, an Introduction to the Study of Comparative Constitutional Law

$36.5

Constitutional Democracy in India (Routledge Studies in South Asian Politics Book 13)

$56.04 $58.99

Backlash Presidents: From Transformative to Reactionary Leaders in American History (Princeton Studies in American Politics)

$29.95 $29.95

NCCS published a controversial textbook, *The Making of America*

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), formerly known as The Freemen Institute, is a conservative, religious-themed organization, founded by Latter-day Saint political writer W. Cleon Skousen. The NCCS has been dedicated to publishing impactful books like "The 5,000 Year Leap" and "The Making of America," alongside various resources, all striving to illuminate the principles fostering freedom and safeguarding human rights.

The NCCS worldview and program are based on two major pillars: (1) understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive and (2) rejecting what it views as the sometimes tyrannical or sinful deviations of the modern U.S. federal government from that divine mold. At a 2010 seminar presented by the NCCS, participants were told that the Constitution came directly from a governmental system adopted by Moses and much later by the legendary Anglo-Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa and then copied by Thomas Jefferson. They were also told that by giving women the vote, the 19th Amendment violated states' rights.

The NCCS was founded in 1971, amidst a growing disconnect from the profound "Freedom Formula" that our forefathers sacrificed for. Originally known as The Freeman Institute, its purpose was clear: to unearth the foundational principles of societal harmony that birthed and will perpetuate freedom in any society rooted in them. These timeless principles are enshrined within the writings of the Founders and the seminal documents they penned, notably the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the United States Constitution (1787).

Mercy Otis Warren wrote in Observations on the New Constitution: "government is instituted for the protection, safety, and happiness of the people, and not for the profit, honour or private interest of any man, family, or class of men...the origin of all power is in the people, and they have an incontestable right to check the creatures of their own creation, vested with certain powers to guard the life, liberty and property of the community." The NCCS commitment extends beyond the realm of literature to conducting enlightening seminars spanning the entire United States. These seminars, ranging from compact evening sessions to day-long events, have been instrumental in their mission.

NCCS conducts seminars and publishes books on the US Constitution

The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS), formerly known as The Freemen Institute, is a conservative, religious-themed organization. It was founded by Latter-day Saint political writer W. Cleon Skousen, a professor at Brigham Young University. The NCCS worldview and program are based on two major pillars: understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive, and rejecting what it views as the sometimes tyrannical or sinful deviations of the modern U.S. federal government from that divine mold.

NCCS has been dedicated to publishing impactful books and conducting seminars that strive to illuminate the principles fostering freedom and safeguarding human rights. Their publications include "The 5,000 Year Leap", "The Making of America", and "Behind the Bill of Rights". The NCCS also publishes a "Pocket Constitution", which is a condensed version of the US Constitution that is easy to carry and read. These pocket constitutions are marketed to students and friends, with some reviewers praising their sturdiness.

In 1987, controversy erupted over the NCCS-published textbook "The Making of America" by W. Cleon Skousen. The book quoted a 1934 essay on slavery by Fred Albert Shannon that included racist language and claimed that white slave owners were "the worst victims of slavery". Despite this, the NCCS has found a number of organizational allies among "constitutionalist" groups and has experienced exploding interest from Tea Party-affiliated groups.

NCCS seminars have also caused controversy. At a 2010 seminar, participants were told that the US Constitution came directly from a governmental system adopted by Moses and later by the legendary Anglo-Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa, and then copied by Thomas Jefferson. This is in line with the NCCS's belief that the founding of the United States was a divine miracle. The seminars range from compact evening sessions to day-long events and take place across the United States.

Frequently asked questions