National Center for Constitutional Studies
Encyclopedia
The National Center for Constitutional Studies (NCCS) is an ultraconservative, religious-themed constitutionalist organization, founded by Mormon
political writer Cleon Skousen
. It was formerly known as The Freemen Institute.
According to the NCCS, the founding of the United States was a divine miracle
. As such, the NCCS worldview and program are based on three major pillars: (1) understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive; (2) rejecting the tyrannical and sinful nature of the modern U.S. federal government; and (3) preparing for a divine reckoning that will bring down America's government and possibly tear society as we know it asunder, thus allowing those with sound principles — i.e., Godly NCCS graduates — to rebuild the republic.
On any given Saturday, several of nearly twenty "Making of America" NCCS lecturers are giving seminars across the United States.
, organized an off-campus institute for constitutional studies. In 1971, this was formerly christened as The Freemen Institute. It was later given its current name and its headquarters moved to Washington, D.C.
The center ran conferences in the 1980s and 1990s through a non-profit it controlled called "The Making of America Conferences, Inc." Board members of this non-profit included Skousen, William H. Doughty
, Donald N. Sills
, and Glenn Kimber
. Impeached Arizona governor Evan Mecham
was also a regular donor to the center.
In the early 1990s, an effort to build a conservative community
in Southern Utah to house the center collapsed amid the developer's unfulfilled promises.
Previous chairmen were:
-authored textbook The Making of America. The book quoted a 1934 essay on slavery by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fred Albert Shannon
that described black children as "pickaninnies"; another section stated that life for white Southerners was "a nightmare" due to "the constant fear of slave rebellion", and claimed that white slave owners were "the worst victims of slavery". The state's bicentennial commission had approved the sale of the book as a fundraising device to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution.
Gary K. Hart
and Willie Brown
demanded that then-Governor George Deukmejian
fire the three members of the Bicentennial Commission who had cast "yes" votes on the sale of the book. The controversy was resolved after the commission issued an apology, stating that it had made a "serious error in judgment" by approving the sale of the book. However, the book was the most requested textbook on American history in the newly freed Poland, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union.
, the Eagle Forum
, and the Oath Keepers
. Additionally, in the media, the NCCS has found a powerful voice in the form of Glenn Beck
, who is a Mormon himself and used his Fox News platform to advocate for NCCS books and ideas. Through Beck's sustained and energetic advocacy, once-forgotten NCCS tracts such as The 5,000 Year Leap have become unlikely bestsellers.
Although the NCCS has been touring the country and propagating its message for nearly four decades, its has never been in greater demand than in 2010. Since the rise of the Tea Party Movement
, the all-volunteer NCCS has experienced exploding interest from Tea Party-affiliated groups such as the 9.12 Project and the Tea Party Patriots
.
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
political writer Cleon Skousen
Cleon Skousen
Willard Cleon Skousen was an American author, conservative American Constitutionalist and faith-based political theorist. He was also a prolific popularizer among Latter-day Saints of their theology...
. It was formerly known as The Freemen Institute.
According to the NCCS, the founding of the United States was a divine miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
. As such, the NCCS worldview and program are based on three major pillars: (1) understanding the divine guidance that has allowed the United States to thrive; (2) rejecting the tyrannical and sinful nature of the modern U.S. federal government; and (3) preparing for a divine reckoning that will bring down America's government and possibly tear society as we know it asunder, thus allowing those with sound principles — i.e., Godly NCCS graduates — to rebuild the republic.
On any given Saturday, several of nearly twenty "Making of America" NCCS lecturers are giving seminars across the United States.
History
The center had its origins when in 1967 Skousen, a professor at Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, organized an off-campus institute for constitutional studies. In 1971, this was formerly christened as The Freemen Institute. It was later given its current name and its headquarters moved to Washington, D.C.
The center ran conferences in the 1980s and 1990s through a non-profit it controlled called "The Making of America Conferences, Inc." Board members of this non-profit included Skousen, William H. Doughty
William H. Doughty
William H. Doughty wanted to start a conservative lifestyle community, the Meadeau View Institute, in Southern Utah from 1986 to the early 1990s. He was also founder of the Institute for Constitutional Education and a founder of George Wythe College. He was a close friend of Cleon Skousen...
, Donald N. Sills
Donald N. Sills
Dr. Donald N. Sills was a Baptist minister and one of the founders of George Wythe College, and previous chairman of the George Wythe Foundation Board of Trustees...
, and Glenn Kimber
Glenn Kimber
Glenn Kimber is an American author and educator. He founded Kimber Academy, a network of private schools, and is a prominent figure among U.S. homeschooling families....
. Impeached Arizona governor Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham was the 17th Governor of Arizona. A decorated veteran of World War II, Mecham earned his living as an automotive dealership owner and occasional newspaper publisher...
was also a regular donor to the center.
In the early 1990s, an effort to build a conservative community
Meadeau View Institute
The Meadeau View Institute was a conservative constitutionalist organization that operated in Duck Creek, Utah, from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The institute was notable for seeking to build a Utopian community of alternative-lifestyle conservatives in Southern Utah...
in Southern Utah to house the center collapsed amid the developer's unfulfilled promises.
Leadership
The current CEO and chairman of the board is Zeldon NelsonPrevious chairmen were:
- Cleon SkousenCleon SkousenWillard Cleon Skousen was an American author, conservative American Constitutionalist and faith-based political theorist. He was also a prolific popularizer among Latter-day Saints of their theology...
- Andrew Allison
- Jim Bartleson
- John L. HarmerJohn L. HarmerJohn L. Harmer is a former California politician who served in the California State Senate as a Republican from 1966 to 1974. He went on to serve briefly as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of California from 1974 to 1975, after the resignation of Edwin Reinecke on October 4, 1974. Departing Governor...
, former lieutenant governor of California - Earl Taylor Jr.
The Making of America controversy
In 1987, controversy erupted in California over the NCCS-published and Cleon SkousenCleon Skousen
Willard Cleon Skousen was an American author, conservative American Constitutionalist and faith-based political theorist. He was also a prolific popularizer among Latter-day Saints of their theology...
-authored textbook The Making of America. The book quoted a 1934 essay on slavery by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fred Albert Shannon
Fred Albert Shannon
Fred Albert Shannon was an American historian and a Pulitzer Prize winner. He had many publications related to the American history, and he won the Pulitzer Prize for History for The Organization and Administration of the Union Army, 1861-1865.-Biography:Shannon was born February 12, 1893, in...
that described black children as "pickaninnies"; another section stated that life for white Southerners was "a nightmare" due to "the constant fear of slave rebellion", and claimed that white slave owners were "the worst victims of slavery". The state's bicentennial commission had approved the sale of the book as a fundraising device to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the United States Constitution.
Gary K. Hart
Gary K. Hart
Gary K. Hart is an American politician and education activist in southern California.-Early life and education:He was born August 13, 1943 in San Diego, California, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School. He entered Stanford University on a football scholarship, spent six months based in...
and Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
demanded that then-Governor George Deukmejian
George Deukmejian
Courken George Deukmejian, Jr. born June 6, 1928) is an Armenian American politician from California who as a Republican served as the 35th Governor of California and as California Attorney General .-Early life:...
fire the three members of the Bicentennial Commission who had cast "yes" votes on the sale of the book. The controversy was resolved after the commission issued an apology, stating that it had made a "serious error in judgment" by approving the sale of the book. However, the book was the most requested textbook on American history in the newly freed Poland, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union.
Contemporary allies and popularity
The NCCS has found a number of new organizational allies among Constitutionalist groups such as the John Birch SocietyJohn Birch Society
The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a Constitutional Republic and personal freedom. It has been described as radical right-wing....
, the Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum
Eagle Forum is a conservative interest group in the United States founded by Phyllis Schlafly in 1972 and is the parent organization that also includes the Eagle Forum Education and Legal Defense Fund and the Eagle Forum PAC. The Eagle Forum has been primarily focused on social issues; it describes...
, and the Oath Keepers
Oath Keepers
Oath Keepers is an American nonprofit organization that advocates that its members uphold the Constitution of the United States should they be ordered to violate it....
. Additionally, in the media, the NCCS has found a powerful voice in the form of Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
, who is a Mormon himself and used his Fox News platform to advocate for NCCS books and ideas. Through Beck's sustained and energetic advocacy, once-forgotten NCCS tracts such as The 5,000 Year Leap have become unlikely bestsellers.
Although the NCCS has been touring the country and propagating its message for nearly four decades, its has never been in greater demand than in 2010. Since the rise of the Tea Party Movement
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
, the all-volunteer NCCS has experienced exploding interest from Tea Party-affiliated groups such as the 9.12 Project and the Tea Party Patriots
Tea Party Patriots
Tea Party Patriots is an American political organization that promotes "fiscally responsible" activism as part of the Tea Party movement. It claims to have over 1,000 local chapters...
.
Publications
- The Roots of America
- The Miracle of America
- The Making of America
- The 5,000 Year Leap
- The Real Thomas Jefferson
- The Real George Washington
- The Real Benjamin Franklin