Roe v. Wade. This infamous U.S. Supreme Court decision that supposedly "legalized" abortion, is rightfully viewed with contempt by millions of Americans who respect the sanctity of life. Widely accepted as the "law of the land," it is held in large part responsible for the execution of over a million pre-born children in the womb in the United States each year. Consequentially, it has been concluded by many that until Roe v. Wade is "overturned" and no longer the "law of the land" that there is nothing substantial that can be done about "legal" abortion.

As tragic as these legal circumstances may seem, there is perhaps an even more tragic aspect to this entire issue, one that is born out of gross ignorance of the plain text of the Constitution on the part of not only the American public but even many pro-life legislators nationwide. What is it that has gone so wrong after all these years? It's simple. We have been lied to. Roe v. Wade is NOT a law at all, even less the "law of the land. This is not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of fact, a fact that is easy to understand by simply picking up the Constitution and reading it. So, lets progress to reading a section of the Constitution that legions of lawyers don't want you to know.

In the very beginning, the Constitution reveals something that is powerfully simple in this regard.

"All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives."
Article1, Section 1 - U.S. Constitution

Legislative power is the power to make laws, change laws, change the meaning of laws and eliminate laws. Article 1, Section 1 clearly states that ALL legislative power is vested in Congress. All of it. Period. End of story. What does this mean? It means that federal courts, which are part of the judicial branch of the federal government, have absolutely no legislative power whatsoever. It means federal courts cannot make laws. It means federal courts cannot change laws. It means federal courts cannot change the meaning of laws. It means federal courts cannot eliminate laws. In order to do any of these things, the courts would have to possess legislative power; something the Constitution clearly states is vested ONLY in Congress. Now how hard is that to understand?

In light of this fact, something regarding Roe v. Wade becomes apparent. Roe v. Wade is not a law at all, even less the "law of the land." It cannot be a law, since it is the product of the Supreme Court, which the Constitution clearly states possesses no legislative (lawmaking) power whatsoever. So, if Roe v. Wade is not a law, then what is it? The answer to that is simple too. Roe v. Wade is a court decision and like all court decisions, it is only binding on the parties to the case. In this circumstance, it is binding on "Roe" and "Wade." No one else.

Now these plain and simple precepts that are derived from the plain text of the Constitution may go against that which is taught to law students in many law schools all across this nation. However, it still doesn't change what the Constitution, the supreme law of the land, actually says on the subject. It only goes to show how far a legal myth can be perpetuated.

Article III Section 2 of the Constitution also provides the Congress the power to limit the appellate jurisdiction of all federal courts. If the Congress so chose, they could specifically regulate the Court's activity to preclude ruling on cases that would reflect upon the rights of States and local governments to prohibit and prosecute abortion. Indeed, the Supreme Court is not vested with untouchable, unlimited power, as some would have us believe.

The framers were right when they placed limited powers in the hands of the judiciary. They felt that since the courts were not vested with either legislative or enforcement powers that they would be the least threat to our liberties. That still would be the case today, if there were not a bipartisan cooperative effort to subvert the Constitution in Washington D.C. and across the country. It again underscores the need to elect candidates to public office who will hold such judges accountable who would subvert the Constitution and rule outside of their proper jurisdiction. (What they can do to hold them accountable will be the topic of an upcoming article.)

Don't believe all the excuses given by political parties, organizations and elected representatives that communicate that there is nothing more that can be done for the pro-life cause but compromise and sacrifice what is right on the altar of political expediency. There is a lot more that can be done, if we only have the will to do so. Those who care about protecting the lives of pre-born children need to read the Constitution for themselves and learn the ground rules by which the battle can be won. The Constitution Party, the only national political party that is 100% pro-life is leading that fight and is worthy of your consideration and support.

Roe v. Wade does not have to be "overturned," for those who defend the lives of innocent children to prevail since it is not a law at all. Let us all do what we can to expose "Roe v. Wade" for what it really is and start supporting only candidates who will do the same and who are fully committed to restoring constitutional and moral integrity to our system of government.

Life itself arose from the oceans. The ocean is vast, covering 140 million square miles, some 72 per cent of the earth's surface. Climate and weather, even the quality of the air people breathe, depend in great measure on an interplay between the ocean and the atmosphere in ways still not fully understood. Not only has the oceans always been a prime source of nourishment for the life it helped generate, but from earliest recorded history it has served for trade and commerce, adventure and discovery. It has kept people apart and brought them together. Even now, when the continents have been mapped and their interiors made accessible by road, river and air, most of the world's people live no more than 200 miles from the sea and relate closely to it.

The ocean, with its enormity and mystery, has ever been part of human consciousness. As mystery gave way to mastery, whole bodies of custom, tradition and law arose defining the rights of the ships and mariners who plied the waters and of the States on the rim of the oceans.

Attempts have been made through the years to regulate the use of the oceans in a single convention that is acceptable to all nations. This effort finally culminated with the adoption of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which has gained nearly universal acceptance since its entry into force on 16 November 1994.

The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides, for the first time, a universal legal framework for the rational management of marine resources and their conservation for future generations. Rarely has such radical change been achieved peacefully, by consensus of the world community. It has thus been hailed as the most important international achievement since the approval of the United Nations Charter in 1945.

While many institutions, some created by the Convention and others part of the United Nations system are responsible for governing areas on specific aspects of the ocean under their jurisdiction, the Convention itself remains the central instrument for promoting stability and peaceful uses of the seas and oceans. It is not, however, a static instrument, but rather a dynamic and evolving body of law that must be vigorously safeguarded and its implementation aggressively advanced.

There is where the United Nations has and will continue to play an important role as the depository of the Convention and the globally recognized forum for monitoring and reporting on all aspects related to oceans and the law of the sea.

As part of this effort, the following brief description of the Convention, and its key provision, is provided as a service to the user in understanding the instrument and its role in international law.

2 Kings 17

14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

5 And they rejected his statutes, (2706) and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images (4776), even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.

17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.