The first six months of 2022 was a challenging time to be an elected official. At that time, I was the highest-ranking elected Republican in Colorado state government. That is neither a personal brag nor is it a slight against Republicans who represented Colorado at the federal level of government. I wasn’t the highest-ranking Reupublican in Colorado, just the highest ranking in its state government.
During those early months of COVID, constituents rightly contacted elected officials to voice concerns about various lockdowns and mandates. Business owners wanted to know how government would support them after limiting or eliminating their ability to conduct business. People wanted to be heard, and they wanted action.
States are different. What is true or possible in one state, may not be true or possible in another state. How a state government functions and who has what power is initially addressed in the constitution of each state. From there, laws are made in compliance with the US Constitution and the Constitution of that state.
Working from the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution, we find that powers not specifically delegated to the limited federal government are “…reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” How the people of your state have delegated all the other powers, whatever they might be and to whom, starts with your state constitution.
During the years I served in the Colorado General Assembly, I learned that most people were generally familiar with the US Constitution, but relatively few were familiar with their state constitution. Some even admitted that they had never actually considered that each state had its own constitution. Outside law schools, law firms, courts, and the state legislature, there isn’t much interest in that foundational topic.
Allan Kaiser was one of those people who contacted me during those early months of COVID. Allan was a constituent who I represented in the Colorado Senate. He was frustrated, concerned, and he wanted answers.
Our first phone conversation was rather pointed with me trying to listen more than talk. Toward the end, it became more relaxed as I took time to explain the limited power that I had, who had the power to deliver what Allan wanted, how that could happen, and when.
Following that conversation, I obtained a copy of the Colorado Constitution and delivered it to Allan at his home. I encouraged him to read it to verify what I had explained about how our state government worked.
Months later, I was guest hosting a popular conservative radio talk show in the Metro Denver market and invited Allan to call in to share his side of our COVID story. He explained how frustrated he was when he first contacted me and that he had assumed that I had more power than I actually did. He shared how I had taken time to explain how Colorado state government works based on the Colorado Constitution. Allan went on to explain that I had personally delivered a copy of the Colorado Constitution to him at his home. And then, Allan made a lot of listeners eyes water when he shared that his granddaughter had taken to asking to sit in his lap by the fire and for Allan to read the Colorado Constitution to her.
As a nation, We the People made a bold and welcome decision on November 5. The bright shining city on the hill is glowing brightly again. My wish is that you would have less reason to be frustrated during this new year and more for which to be thankful, optimistic, and happy.
If you have time and the interest, find your state constitution online or possibly in hard copy. Take time to read it and get to know better who has what power in your state. And maybe, if there’s a child or grandchild near, share the wisdom of the People of your state with the next generation. What more encouraging words might you ever hear than those of Allan’s granddaughter, “Read me the Constitution, Grandpa.”
May God Bless you, your family, and the United States of America.
About the author: Chris Holbert served as a Republican Colorado State Representative (2011-2014) and Colorado State Senator (2015-2022). During his time in the Colorado Senate, he was elected as Senate Majority Leader (2017-2018) and was twice elected unanimously as Senate Minority Leader (2019-2020; 2021-2022). Subject to term limits, Chris moved with his wife to Florida in 2022.
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