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  • Writer's pictureKaren Brittingham-Edmond

Unfit for Office: Exploring the Constitutional Limits on Insurrectionists and the Problem with Trump's Legacy

Updated: Jan 16

January 12, 2024

Revision of improper artwork Jan 13, 2024




Insurrectionists cannot run for office in America because the Constitution of the United States provides that anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution shall be disqualified from holding any office under the United States. This is found in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which was passed after the Civil War to ensure that those who supported the Confederacy could not hold public office. So, anyone who is found to have participated in an insurrection against the United States government, such as the one that occurred at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, would be disqualified from running for office under the Constitution.


Former President Trump is considered by some to be an insurrectionist based on his actions leading up to and on January 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Some people believe that Trump's rhetoric and actions, including his repeated false claims of election fraud and his encouragement of his supporters to "fight" to overturn the election results, helped to incite the violence that occurred at the Capitol. In fact, the article of impeachment against him stated that he incited an insurrection against the United States government. However, it is important to note that the former President denies these allegations and has not been convicted of any crimes related to the events of January 6, 2021.


The Reconstruction Republicans of the Civil War era and today's Republican Party have some significant differences.


The Reconstruction Republicans supported the Union during the Civil War and were committed to rebuilding and unifying the country after the war. They were also advocates of civil rights for newly emancipated slaves and worked to pass a series of amendments to the Constitution to ensure that African Americans had equal rights under the law. The Reconstruction Republicans were also proponents of federal intervention in the South to ensure that the rights of African Americans were protected.


In contrast, the modern-day Republican Party has evolved over time and has different priorities and policies. The party is generally more conservative in its views on social issues, such as abortion and LGBTQ rights, and tends to favor smaller government and lower taxes. The party also tends to be more skeptical of federal intervention in state affairs and advocates for states' rights. Additionally, the party has undergone some significant changes in recent years, particularly with the rise of the Tea Party movement, which has pushed the party further to the right on issues such as immigration and government spending.


While there are certainly differences between the Reconstruction Republicans and today's Republican Party, it is important to note that both groups are committed to democracy and the American system of government.





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