Enterprise Regulation Prof Weblog

The historical past of the current King of Nice Britain is a historical past of repeated accidents and usurpations, all having in direct object the institution of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To show this, let Details be submitted to a candid world.

 . . .

He has mixed with others to topic us to a jurisdiction international to our structure, and unacknowledged by our legal guidelines; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Laws:

 . . . 

For reducing off our Commerce with all elements of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us with out our Consent:

 . . .

We, subsequently, the Representatives of the US of America, in Normal Congress, Assembled, interesting to the Supreme Decide of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, within the Identify, and by Authority of the nice individuals of those Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Proper should be Free and Unbiased States; that they’re Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that each one political connection between them and the State of Nice Britain, is and should be completely dissolved; and that as Free and Unbiased States, they’ve full Energy to . . . set up Commerce, and to do all different Acts and Issues which Unbiased States could of proper do. And for the assist of this Declaration, with a agency reliance on the Safety of Divine Windfall, we mutually pledge to one another our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Phrases from the Declaration of Independence that protected and catalyzed the event of the legal guidelines that I educate.  In fact, there’s much more there than assist for self-determined enterprise legal guidelines.  Maybe because of this, I hardly ever have paused to contemplate the significance of our Declaration of Independence to U.S. enterprise regulation. 

Is the connection apparent?  Sure.  All of us be taught in regards to the Boston Tea Get together in class, and I labored downtown within the Authorities Middle a part of Boston for the higher a part of fifteen years originally of my career–a fixed reminder of that a part of our historical past.  However, for me, the connection of the Declaration of Independence to enterprise regulation has been all however ignored–or a minimum of forgotten. 

At the moment, I’m grateful for this a part of the Declaration of Independence in addition to the remainder.  We don’t at all times execute our lawmaking freedom completely, however our legal guidelines are ours.  And that is vital.

Joyful Fourth to all!