Learning and Teaching the Constitution

I am Larry D. Mayo, a certified instructor with the Institute on the Constitution, teaching courses on the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Delaware Constitution. I also developed and teach a course on the Declaration of Independence, because understanding its principles of natural rights and self-government is essential to understanding the Constitution itself.

My journey began years ago during a campaign when a young man handed me a pocket copy of the Constitution along with a story about a voter refusing to re-elect a candidate who failed to understand the document he swore to uphold. Whether the story was perfectly accurate or not, it challenged me. I realized that despite graduating from a highly rated school, I had never actually read the Constitution in full.

So I read it—several times.

What I discovered was surprising: it was understandable, clear, and deeply meaningful. Yet I also began to question why it didn’t seem to be followed as intended. That question led me deeper into study—through courses, writings of the Founders, and historical research.

While several programs helped shape my understanding, it was “The American View of Law, Liberty, and Government” through the Institute on the Constitution that truly transformed my perspective. In just the first lecture, principles I had spent years piecing together became clear and cohesive. Over time, I retook the course, taught it, and experienced continual “ah-ha” moments that deepened my conviction.

For more than a decade, I have taught constitutional courses throughout Delaware to anyone willing to learn. My love for this state and its history also led me to develop and teach A Complete Study of the Delaware State Constitution, helping citizens better understand the role of state government and the importance of self-government.

In July 2023, I was appointed President of the Institute on the Constitution, serving until its merger with Self Evident Ministries at the end of 2025. I now serve as Regional Director, continuing this work through teaching, outreach, and this platform.

This mission is simple: to help restore a proper understanding of our founding principles so that we may cultivate an informed electorate and preserve liberty for future generations. While I now charge for some courses to support and expand this work, my purpose remains unchanged—to educate, equip, and inspire.

As Thomas Jefferson said:“I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves… the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.”

And as another truth reminds us: “Anyone who desires to remain ignorant and free desires what never was and never will be.”

That belief continues to guide everything I do.