The Founding Standard publishes constitutional analysis, historical reviews, political commentary, fact checks, and research on issues affecting the American republic. Our credibility depends on presenting evidence accurately, distinguishing fact from opinion, and applying the same standards even when the evidence challenges our own assumptions.
Accuracy
We make a good-faith effort to verify names, dates, quotations, statistics, legal provisions, historical claims, and descriptions of events before publication. Significant claims should be supported by reliable documentation, and headlines should not state more than the underlying evidence establishes.
Sources
Primary sources are preferred whenever practical. These may include constitutional text, statutes, court decisions, government records, historical documents, original speeches, public financial records, official datasets, and peer-reviewed research.
Secondary sources may be used for background and interpretation, but major claims should be traced to original evidence whenever possible. Social-media posts, memes, anonymous screenshots, and commentary videos may identify a subject worth investigating, but they are not treated as conclusive proof by themselves.
Fact, Inference, and Opinion
Articles should distinguish among:
Verified fact: A claim supported by reliable documentation or multiple credible sources.
Reasonable inference: A conclusion drawn from available evidence but not directly established by it.
Analysis: The author’s interpretation of facts, history, law, policy, or ideology.
Opinion: A value judgment, recommendation, prediction, or personal conclusion.
Unverified allegation: A claim that has been made but has not been established sufficiently to present as fact.
Opposing Arguments
When serious counterarguments exist, we strive to represent them accurately rather than substituting exaggerated or easily dismissed versions.
Considering an opposing argument does not require treating every position as equally supported. The strength and quality of the evidence should determine how much weight a claim receives.
Religion, Politics, and Groups
The Founding Standard distinguishes among individuals, religious communities, political ideologies, organizations, governments, and extremist movements.
Criticism should focus on documented ideas, doctrines, policies, statements, organizations, and conduct. The actions or beliefs of one individual or faction should not automatically be attributed to every member of a religion, nationality, political party, ethnicity, or social group.
Constitutional and Legal Analysis
Legal articles should distinguish constitutional text, statutory law, binding judicial precedent, nonbinding opinions, historical interpretation, proposed policy, and author analysis.
The Founding Standard is not a law firm, and its articles do not provide individualized legal advice.
Statistics and Data
Statistics should identify the source, relevant dates, definitions, population examined, and important limitations whenever practical.
Charts and graphics should not use distorted scales, selective time periods, or missing context intended to create a misleading impression. Correlation should not be presented as proof of causation.
Quotations
Quotations must reproduce the speaker’s or author’s words accurately and should not be edited in a way that changes their meaning.
When wording is disputed or translated, the article should identify the source or translation used when it materially affects the analysis.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial-intelligence tools may assist with research organization, transcription, editing, formatting, brainstorming, or source discovery.
AI-generated statements are not treated as verified facts without review against reliable sources. The author remains responsible for the accuracy, sourcing, originality, and conclusions of every published article.
Images and Media
Images should be created by the publication, properly licensed, in the public domain, or used under an applicable legal exception.
Illustrations, reenactments, composites, and AI-generated images should be labeled when a reasonable reader could otherwise mistake them for documentary evidence.
Conflicts of Interest
Authors should disclose financial, professional, political, organizational, or personal interests that could reasonably affect how readers evaluate an article.
Sponsored content, advertising, affiliate links, and paid partnerships will be identified clearly. Editorial conclusions will not be changed solely to satisfy advertisers, sponsors, donors, political organizations, or advocacy groups.
Corrections
Meaningful factual errors will be corrected promptly and transparently.
Minor spelling, punctuation, formatting, or broken-link repairs may be made without a formal notice when they do not alter an article’s meaning. Substantive factual changes will be handled under our Corrections Policy.
Our Commitment
The Founding Standard does not claim to be free from perspective or judgment. It does commit to showing readers the evidence, acknowledging uncertainty, representing serious disagreement fairly, and correcting material errors openly.
Strong claims deserve strong evidence.
Last updated: August 5, 2026