Step-by-step instructions on pursuing a Constitutional resolution in your county or town are found below the links. Note that the language used in the documents refers to counties, but the documents can be edited to reflect town government. Scroll down.
CITIZEN LEADERSHIP matters. There must be a leader in each county who takes the initiative to organize, communicate, and guide fellow citizens through this process.
STEP 1: Educate yourself... Familiarize yourself with the concept of "Constitutional County" (Constitutional Sanctuary) by reviewing the information on this website.
STEP 2: Educate others in the community and organize, organize, organize... Do this by printing out the petition found in the links above. Edit it as needed to reflect your specific county. Use the petition as a tool to talk to others about the idea of Constitutional County and to start networking and building support. Ask others to gather signatures as well. Make sure you have a point person to whom the signed petitions are returned. Reach out to local patriot groups that may have formed in your area. At this point you are networking and it is important to be developing an email contact list of those willing to participate in this movement. The purpose of the petition is two-fold. Signatures can certainly indicate support for the idea of Constitutional status when they are submitted to the county government. But, the act of gathering signatures is also an act of education and networking. See the slide presentation for fellow citizens available in the links at the top of this page. STEP 3: Initiate contact with your county legislators (or their equivalent *)... Craft an email to send to all the county legislators sharing your vision for establishing your county as a Constitutional County. Ask them if they would be willing to sponsor a resolution. Share examples of other counties who have passed such a resolution. If you are not sure how to contact your county legislators, an internet search generally yields that information. Just search on "County legislators in ________ county, state (eg: county legislators in Cattaraugus County, NY). [* Some counties have a "board of supervisors" rather than county legislators] STEP 4: Assess the interest and courage of your county legislators... If some of the legislators respond to your initial email with interest, begin a dialogue with them. If you do not hear back from any or if they contact you but seem reluctant to embrace the idea of Constitutional County, rally the members of your email contact list and other interested parties to respectfully email and call the legislators with the simple message: "We are interested in having a resolution drafted and passed in our county stating that we are a Constitutional County."
STEP 5: Request "Privilege of the Floor"... "Privilege of the floor" means that you are given the opportunity to address the legislators formally during one of their legislative sessions. County legislatures will have specific procedures to follow, thus you have to request and be granted "privilege of the floor." Check out the website of your county government. Call or email to find out the procedure and to express your desire to be granted the privilege. Find out if there is a time limit. Be prepared to explain why you are seeking privilege of the floor. An example response: I am concerned about the loss of civil liberties and wish to express to the legislators that community support exists for passing a resolution affirming that this county is a county that supports the primacy of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. See the slide presentation for county legislators (or boards of supervisors) available in the links at the top of this page. STEP 6: Hit your message out of the ballpark when you address the legislators during your privilege of the floor opportunity... Have a well prepared message to share (there is a sample one available in the links at the top of this page that you can edit and use if needed or use the slide presentation). Bring supporters with you. Make sure the supporters are enthusiastic, respectful, and peaceful. At this point, you can also deliver the signatures you have collected on the petition IF you have a good number of signatures (at least 300 or so for a rural county). If you do not have at least 300 signatures, do not hand in the petitions. The petition is not required to pursue a resolution to declare the county is a "Constitutional County." The petition merely supports the concept and is a tool of education. STEP 7: Follow up, follow up, follow up... Continue contacting legislators (and ask your email contact list to do the same) regarding the resolution. If necessary, draft a sample resolution and provide it to the legislators (there is a sample resolution found below). Ultimately, the resolution passed needs to be drafted by them, but if you provide one they could use and build on, it may encourage them to move it forward.
NOTE: If your county legislators (or board of supervisors) is unwilling to consider a resolution or if they are unable to pass one because there is not enough legislative support, this is an indication that you need to vote them out and get brave, Constitutionally-minded men and women in those seats. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME if you don't think you can change the minds of your legislators. Instead, concentrate your efforts on identifying WHO NEEDS TO BE VOTED OUT and SEEK PEOPLE TO RUN FOR THEIR POSITION! STEP 8: Once the resolution is passed... The resolution will be mostly symbolic at first. And that is ok. Symbolism matters. The step to take once this symbolic piece of local legislation is in place is to make it useful. As issues arise, refer back to the resolution. If unconstitutional mandates come down from the State or Washington, ask your legislators to consider the concept of nullification (i.e. refusing to enforce the mandate) based on the spirit and the letter of the resolution. At this point, it will be very important to be intentional. Pursue issues that are specific and of a do-able scope and size. We are building a foundation one stone at a time.
STEP 9: Answering the question, "What does this resolution mean?"... At the point immediately following its adoption by the county government, the resolution is symbolic. It is a first step, not the last one, in a long walk back to the liberties we inherited as American citizens. Thus, in many ways the answer to this important question lies with us, the People. Will “We the People” do our part in participating in the process? Will we stay informed and speak up to express to our County Legislators the need to take the resolution to the next level: nullification of mandates that are unconstitutional and that fail to pass the “strict scrutiny” test required when liberties are infringed? Will we – with peaceful integrity and thoughtfulness – be courageous enough to refuse to comply with mandates that assault the boundaries of Constitutional restraint of governmental authority? Whether this resolution remains symbolic or becomes consequential depends on the grit and perseverance of the Citizens and the courage and political will of the Legislators whom they have elected. As we face the next step - nullification of unconstitutional mandates - do we have the courage? Do we have the will? Will we grow weary and discouraged, or will we persevere? Do we treasure the jewel and heritage of liberty enough to press on and strive to pass her on – polished and renewed – as the legacy we leave to the next generation? We have much to think about. We have much to do. STEP 10: Stay involved and encourage others in your town and in your county to do the same... Attending and participating in school board meetings, town meetings, and county meetings are essential. Participating in election boards at the precinct and county levels and making certain that our elections are free and fair is also absolutely necessary. If we are serious about taking back our government, we must recognize this is a commitment for the long-haul. Constitutional patriots must be woven into the school boards, town boards, and county government. This can occur through simply attending the meetings and continually staying informed. This can occur by running for positions at the local level. If we fail to say involved, a nice sounding resolution will mean nothing. STEP 11:Reach beyond the borders of your county... Do you have family and friends in other counties that might be interested in pursuing a Constitutional County status for their county? Reach out to them and get the ball rolling. And always, pray. Lift your eyes to the Creator Redeemer God who has authored life and liberty. Walk with Him in truth and righteousness. Pray for national repentance and restoration. This is our true hope, and He is the reason we stand for freedom... For whom the Son sets free is free indeed!
What does a "Constitutional County" Resolution actually mean?
On August 25, 2021, the Cattaraugus County Legislature passed a resolution declaring that they recognize that government is to be limited and the people free from unnecessary and arbitrary governmental overreach and intrusions. The Resolution ended by stating: “RESOLVED, that the Cattaraugus County Legislature hereby declares Cattaraugus County, New York, a Constitutional County, unwavering in their commitment to protect Constitutional rights.”
In these days in which freedom loving folks are often treated as if there is something wrong with them, this was a moment of success and celebration. In these days in which liberty is so often despised by the very people who have benefited the most from it, this was a moment of victory.
The big question is: What does this resolution mean? At this point, the resolution is symbolic. It is a first step, not the last one, in a long walk back to the liberties we inherited as American citizens. Thus, in many ways the answer to this important question lies with us, the People. Will “We the People” do our part in participating in the process? Will we stay informed and speak up to express to our County Legislators the need to take the resolution to the next level: nullification of mandates that are unconstitutional and that fail to pass the “strict scrutiny” test required when liberties are infringed? Will we – with peaceful integrity and thoughtfulness – be courageous enough to refuse to comply with mandates that assault the boundaries of Constitutional restraint of governmental authority? Whether this resolution remains symbolic or becomes consequential depends on the grit and perseverance of the Citizens and the courage and political will of the Legislators whom they have elected. As we face the next step - nullification of unconstitutional mandates - do we have the courage? Do we have the will? Will we grow weary and discouraged, or will we persevere? Do we treasure the jewel and heritage of liberty enough to press on and strive to pass her on – polished and renewed – as the legacy we leave to the next generation? We have much to think about. We have much to do.
As I write these words, mask and vaccine mandates are hanging heavily over our heads. Our children are returning to school soon, and we are being told that the State will mandate masks. It doesn’t matter that the risk to children from SARS-CoV-2 is statistically zero. It doesn’t matter that negative consequences to children from being forced to wear masks has been documented. The State expects us to do what we are told… and expects the same of county and local governments. Health care workers have been mandated to receive the vaccine. It doesn’t matter that some have natural immunity from previous infection. It doesn’t matter that no evidence has been provided to demonstrate that health care workers have been transmitting COVID to patients. It doesn’t matter that many of these health care workers will leave their jobs before submitting to this unreasonable mandate, and an exodus of health care workers will make what is already a shortage of health care professions even worse. The State seems not to care about facts or consequences.
The next step after passing such a resolution as the one passed on 8/25/21 in Cattaraugus County is nullification of specific mandates. But we must not be naïve. The resolution does not mean we are back to pre-oligarchy days in which freedom reigned. We are still in the oligarchy and clawing our way out of the quicksand of the soft tyranny that has been eroding our liberties for decades will take vision, effort, courage, and time. The next step is to stay in touch with the Legislators and ask them to consider nullifying mandates as we go. We the People need to do our diligence to make the case that nullification is reasonable and justified against specific mandates. We can’t just stomp our feet and wring our hands and post our memes… If we expect the Legislators to take a courageous stand, we need to back them with well crafted arguments and ideas that are cohesive and clearly communicated. We need to know our stuff and express it well.
Get informed. Stay informed. Pursue truth. Communicate with clarity. Identify mandates that are unreasonable, arbitrary and that lack justification. Then start a dialogue with the Legislators about nullifying (i.e. refusing to enforce) that mandate in your county.
And above all remember that national repentance is the true answer to national restoration and renewal. So pray to the Creator Redeemer God from whom our rights originate that He would have mercy on this land and turn our hearts and minds back to Him.