Our staff consists of strict Constitutionalists and prepare our students with only the finest education. Founded in 1776, the Ron Paul Institute began as the Jefferson Institute -- founded by Thomas Jefferson himself. Beginning with nothing but a few benches under a large weeping willow along the Patomic River, the institute grew larger the more the government ravaged the Constitution and trampled
upon civil liberties. In 1933, then president Franklin D. Roosevelt attempted to disassemble the institution with the use of public union contracted demolition teams in order to put more demolition workers to work. However, following the attempted destruction of The Liberty Bell -- which resulted in the infamous crack in her bell -- the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that FDR was overstepping his executive authority and immediately order demolition crews stand down. In 1988, the institute appointed the Libertarian presidential nominee Dr. Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul, M.D. as the institute's president and simultaneously changed the name to reflect this. The Ron Paul Institute continued to expand throughout the 1990's and early 2000's as presidents George H.W. Bush, William "Just the tip" Clinton, and George W. Bush unconstitutionally committed acts of war on various Middle East countries. During the 2004 election cycle, the institute was renamed once more to highlight the curriculum stressed by Ron Paul. In 2008, President Paul lead the effort to restructure the institute's organization, turning operational duties over to the Board of Directors, in order for him to devote more time to his presidential campaign. Despite this reorganization of responsibilities, Dr. Paul has remained the President of the Institute which bears his name, although his duties are largely ceremonial. In 2011, the Institute re-opened the "Committee to Elect Ron Paul Leader of the United States" (CERPLUS), which had been closed since 2008. The Committe consists of several scholars, advisors, and political activists who will use the influence and resources of the Institute to help in Pesident Paul's campaign for the United States Presidency. Students are encouraged to join the campaign and their experience with CERPLUS can gain them class credits in the concentrations of "Activism", "Organizing", "Grassroots" and "Ron Paul related Studies".