Constitution of No Authority

Lysander Spooner's 'No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority' argues that the U.S.

Constitution is not binding on individuals because it was not explicitly consented to by each person it governs.

Spooner contends that government legitimacy requires voluntary agreement, not implicit acceptance through residence or participation in elections.

He asserts that the Constitution is essentially a contract between private parties, and only those who have personally signed and agreed to its terms are bound by it.

Spooner critiques the idea of tacit consent, arguing that silence or inaction cannot be interpreted as genuine agreement.

This essay forms a key part of his broader philosophy of individualist anarchism, advocating for self-ownership and voluntary association.