Think of a concrete slab as the foundation of a home: inflexible, immovable, and inviolate.
One keystone of our constitutional republican form of government is found in the first statement of the second paragraph of the unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America of July 4, 1776.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.“
New Mexico Constitution, Article XX, Section 1: Every person elected or appointed to any office shall, before entering upon his duties, take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation that he will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution and laws of this state, and that he will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of his office to the best of his ability.
Words Have Meanings
Oath: a solemn declaration to God, a god, or some person or thing that is sacred, that what one says is the truth, or that what one promises will be done. The Legal Definition of the oath of office here.
Faithfully: true to one’s word, promises, vows, etc.
Malfeasance: the performance by a public official of an act that is legally unjustified, harmful, or contrary to law;
wrongdoing (used esp. of an act in violation of a public trust).
News Story, Fox News, September 9, 2023 | New Mexico Republican legislators call for Dem Gov. Grisham’s impeachment after gun order: ‘She’s rogue’
“Two Republican members of the New Mexico State House of Representatives are calling for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be impeached after she temporarily suspended open and concealed carry across Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days.”
“All state officers and judges of the district court shall be liable to impeachment for crimes,
misdemeanors and malfeasance in office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further
than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit, or to
vote under the laws of this state; but such officer or judge, whether convicted or acquitted shall,
nevertheless, be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment, punishment or civil action, according to
law. No officer shall exercise any powers or duties of his office after notice of his impeachment
is served upon him until he is acquitted.” — New Mexico Constitution, Article IV, Sec. 36. [Officers subject to impeachment.]
“You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man’s age-old dream — the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order –or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path.” — President Ronald Reagan
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 