INTRODUCTION What, EXACTLY, is written in the United States Constitution? . . . and . . . What does it MEAN? Any sound attempt to interpret the Constitution must address these two questions, especially the first. The CONSTITUTION Notebook (TCN) Program can help you answer these two questions for yourself and to your own satisfaction. Use its INTERACTIVE SEARCH feature with its faithful rendition of the Constitution through the 27th amendment to answer the first question. Review its extensive (100+ pages) of rights commentary to help you answer the second question. Create notes with its notebook features (has INTERACTIVE INDEXING capability and comments box) to help you remember what you learn about the Constitution. Necessary documentation is included in a tutorial that can be used on-screen or printed out. You can order (from TCNbP Company) additional TCN program user documentation and materials related to the study of the Constitution. PREFACE This file contains information related to use of the TCN program obtained from a variety of sources (BBS, CD-ROM, disk vendors, etc.). Topics addressed are listed in the following outline: INTRODUCTION PREFACE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS INSTALLATION or SETUP TASKBAR TIPS STARTUP GENERAL (a full description of the TCN program) * faithful rendition of the Constitution * extensive rights commentary * Interactive Search and Indexing capabilities * User Documentation, on-screen or hardcopy WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 4.2 LICENSE FOR USE AND DISTRIBUTION ORDERING EFFECTIVITY DISCLAIMERS KNOWN BUGS TCNbP COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION TCN Program Story TCN Program Concepts SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS TCN program version 4.2 for Windows '95/'98 is compatible with Windows '95 and '98. It will NOT run on version 3.1x. NOTE: A 16-bit version of the TCN program is available for Windows 3.1x. It is distributed using filenames TCN42WIN.ZIP or TCNWIN.ZIP. Obtain one of these files if your computer uses Windows version 3.1x. The amount of disk space required varies depending on how your hard drive is configured and whether you already have some of the required files. It requires 2.5 to 4.2 megs if drive is not double spaced. On a double spaced drive, space requirements are higher. NOTE: SETUP.EXE automatically determines the space required on the drive you select as the install drive. If insufficient space is found, you are advised and files are not installed. INSTALLATION or SETUP Run SETUP.EXE to install the TCN program. Should SETUP.EXE fail to install the TCN program properly the first time, try again. This usually works. If it fails a second time, there are two things to try: 1) Click the "Change Directory" button and enter an install path that consists of letters and Arabic numerals only, 8 maximum between backslashes, with a letter for the first character after each backslash, 2) Be sure your recycle bin is empty, close all applications, restart Windows '95/'98, and run SETUP.EXE again. NOTE: TCN.EXE has an Uninstall option on the options menu. You can use it if you decide the TCN program is not useful to you. TASKBAR TIPS The TCN Program for Windows '95/'98 is designed to be taskbar friendly. If you locate your taskbar at the top or bottom of your screen, and you set its height to one line, you can use the TCN program with the "Always on Top" option of the taskbar turned on or off, as you prefer. If you locate your taskbar on the sides of your screen, or if you set its height to more than one line, you must turn off the "Always on Top" option of the taskbar to use the TCN program. NOTE: If you change the "Always on Top" setting, be sure to click the "Apply" button on the Taskbar Properties form. Otherwise, the TCN program must be re-started for the new setting to take effect. The TCN program for Windows '95/'98 saves its vertical location upon exit. If you keep your taskbar at one side of your screen, you can situate the TCN program vertically to leave the taskbar exposed for a mouse click at the top only, at the bottom only, or at the top and bottom. STARTUP To start the TCN program, click the "CONSTITUTION Notebook" option of the Programs menu. The first time (and only the first time) the TCN program is started after installation, a few introductory screens tell you how to start learning about the TCN program. Pay close attention. GENERAL The TCN program is a Constitutional study aid for the independent minded PC user. It is produced by TCNbP Company and distributed as freeware. Major features of the TCN program are: * Very faithful rendition of the Constitution * Extensive rights commentary * Interactive Search and Indexing capabilities * User documentation available on-screen or print hardcopy. * TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION With the TCN program, you get a very faithful rendition of the text of the complete United States Constitution through the 27th amendment which includes the Ratification Resolution as well as the Resolution proposing the Bill of Rights. The rendition of the Constitution included with the TCN Program is likely the most faithful copy of it to be found outside the National Archives. * EXTENSIVE RIGHTS COMMENTARY With the TCN program, you get over 100 pages of comments about rights. The comments compare and contrast text of the following significant historical rights documents with the Constitution and each other: * Magna Carta * English Bill of Rights * Declaration of Independence * French Bill of Rights * Universal Declaration of Human Rights The complete text of each of these documents is presented on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis. Following most paragraphs, comments prepared by TCNbP Company highlight important concepts about that paragraph. Related phrases of the Constitution are cross referenced using the interactive indexing feature of the TCN program. Comments and indexed phrases can be edited by the user. Additional topics can be created by the user. You can print out commentary or save in an ASCII file on disk for embellishment using your word processor. * INTERACTIVE SEARCH AND INDEXING CAPABILITIES Using the search feature of the TCN program, you can quickly find a phrase of interest in the Constitution. OR, you can more quickly determine with confidence whether or not a "remembered" phrase is contained in the Constitution. While researching an aspect of Constitutional interpretation of interest to you, you can use the interactive search capability to find related phrases. Then, you can use the interactive indexing capability to link or cross reference that phrase to a topic heading within the program. The topic heading can be created by you or provided by TCNbP Company. * USER DOCUMENTATION Documentation required to use the TCN program is contained in the file TCNUSER.TXT. You can access it from within the TCN program by clicking the "Quick Tutor" option the Documentation menu. From there, you can use the information on-screen or you can print hard copy one heading at a time. To print all of TCNUSER.TXT (about 4 pages), click the "Print TCNUSER.TXT" option of the Documentation menu. If top and bottom margins are not properly printed, click the "Use System Margins" option of the Options menu. Or use your word processor. NOTE: If you use the on-screen version of the user documentation, a convenient method is provided to alternately view the tutorial and the TCN program screens. A single mouse click or key combination does it for you. WHAT'S NEW IN VERSION 4.2 Version 4.2 of the TCN program was released for two reasons: 1) address bugs reported with version 4.1, 2) distribute as FREEWARE. Version 4.1 will NOT run under Windows '98. Version 4.2 fixes that. One bug reported with version 4.1 (but which has probably been around much longer) is related to the "Cancel" button on the add seminar title form. This has been fixed. Also, on some monitors, the TCN program Windows version is displayed on less than 1/2 the screen. Even for users with normal eyesight, this makes it too hard to use. No suitable fix has been found, except, the DOS version appears full-size on such monitors. Hence, a DOS version 4.2 is available for users who experience this difficulty. The DOS version uses the mouse and, with one or two minor exceptions, is identical in operation to the Windows versions. NOTICE OF LIMITED LICENSE FOR USE AND DISTRIBUTION The CONSTITUTION Notebook Program is NOT a public domain program. It is copyrighted by TCNbP Company. This software and accompanying documentation are protected by United States copyright law and also by international treaty provisions. By virtue of the fact that you possess a copy of the TCN Program version 4.2 for Windows '95/'98 (hereinafter referred to variously as TCN Program Version 4.2), TCNbP Company grants you a limited license to use and distribute this software. LICENSE FOR USE OF THE TCN PROGRAM VERSION 4.2 Version 4.2 of the TCN program is FREEWARE. Without incurring any obligation to TCNbP Company, ANYONE can use it forever and ever to study the US Constitution. You may not use, copy, rent, lease, sell, modify, decompile, disassemble, otherwise reverse engineer, or transfer the licensed program except as provided in this agreement. Any such unauthorized use shall result in immediate and automatic termination of this license. All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to TCNbP Company. LIMITED DISTRIBUTION LICENSE FOR THE TCN PROGRAM Your license to distribute copies of the TCN program version 4.2 is a permanent license. TCNbP Company grants this distribution license to ANYONE with a copy of the TCN program version 4.2. ANYONE may distribute copies of the TCN Program Version 4.2 package, completely unaltered, without further permissions. ANYONE can charge a nominal fee for providing copies of Version 4.2 of the TCN program to individuals or organizations. A price between $5.00 and $10.00 is suggested. ANYONE can distribute the TCN Program Version 4.2 with the file VENDINFO.DIZ removed. On-line software distributors (BBS, internet-based, or major providers) or CD-ROM producers can distribute the TCN program version 4.2 with the file VB40032.DL_ removed from the zip file. Please use the name CN42W95A.ZIP or CNW95A.ZIP if you do this. On-line software distributors can add a promotional file to the zipped archive containing version 4.2 of the TCN program posted on their board. However, please do not rename or alter the content of the README.TXT file distributed by TCNbP Company. On-line software distributors and Other Distributors of the TCN program are allowed to re-compress the archive of the TCN Program version 4.2 distribution file set. Do NOT re-compress any of the individual files in the distribution file set. CD-ROM Producers can use their canned launcher or install program to launch or to install the TCN Program version 4.2. NOTE: The TCN Program alters files during the normal course of its operation. Therefore, it cannot be run straight off a CD-ROM drive - its files MUST be transferred to a hard drive. Disk vendors can add a promotional file to the root directory of disks they sell containing the TCN Program version 4.2. However, please do not rename or alter the content of the README.TXT file distributed by TCNbP Company. Permission to distribute the Version 4.2 of The CONSTITUTION Notebook Program package is not transferable, assignable, saleable, or franchisable. Each vendor wishing to distribute the package must independently satisfy the terms of this limited distribution license. The provisions of the license contained in the README.TXT (this) file are identical to those of the license contained in the VENDINFO data If that file is missing, or if you are not equipped to use it, use the license expressed in this text to guide you in your decision to distribute a package containing version 4.2 of TCN program. TCNbP Company may revoke any permissions granted here, by notifying you in writing. All rights not expressly granted here are reserved to TCNbP Company. NOTE: If you feel that any part of this package or license has been tampered with, get a copy from TCNbP Company's website. ORDERING If you like the materials included with TCN program Version 4.2, you can order additional similar materials from TCNbP Company. When you order, you receive an enhanced version of the TCN program with full documentation and a perpetual license. Plus, you receive: TCNbP Company's commented Constitution seminar, An uncommented seminar of the Constitution, Five more uncommented seminars, each containing one of the 5 other rights documents included with the freeware version, and Another seminar that contains exercises, additional commentary, and a set of 40+ axioms for Constitutional interpretation. You receive all of the above materials. You are licensed to install these materials on any computer you use. You can install all enhanced version materials, or just those of interest to you. You can install more than one copy of any seminar, mostly useful with the uncommented seminars. HOWEVER, the materials you receive with your order are NOT freeware. You are NOT licensed to give, sell, or distribute enhanced version materials to others. You can order by printing a blank hard copy of an order form (ORDERFRM.TXT) and complete it manually. Or you can use the interactive order form by clicking the Interactive Order option of the Order menu. Refer to the various options of the Order menu for further information. EFFECTIVITY Orders for materials at the fees posted with version 4.2 of the TCN program will be honored through July 4, 2001. DISCLAIMERS No part of the provided commentary is to be construed as legal advice. If you have a legal problem or question, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. TCNbP Company assumes no liability for any consequences, direct or otherwise, resulting from your use of the TCN Program. Any views expressed in the provided commentary are those of TCNbP Company and are not necessarily held by any distributor. TCNbP Company makes no claims regarding the suitability of the TCN Program for any particular purpose. TCNbP Company warrants only those copies that it distributes. All other warranty is between you and your distributor. KNOWN BUGS Windows Version 4.2 of the TCN program has *NO* known bugs. Please contact TCNbP Company if you find a bug in the TCN program. TCNbP COMPANY CONTACT INFORMATION Use the following information to contact TCNbP Company: Telephone: (318) 495 - 3484 USPS: TCNbP Company, P. O. Box 516, OLLA, LA 71465 E-Mail TCNbP@aol.com or TCNbP@centuryinter.net NOTE: You can omit "@aol.com" if you are logged onto America On-Line. URL: http://members.aol.com/tcnbp/ HOW IT ALL GOT STARTED The following text describes the events that immediately preceded the earliest efforts toward producing the TCN Program. On July 3, 1989, CSPAN carried live coverage of the events surrounding publication of that year's rulings by the supreme Court. Highly controversial and emotional issues were addressed, and the Court's decisions made individuals on both sides of more than one issue very unhappy. Shouting each other down at times, individuals with opposing views made irreconcilable conflicting statements about rights on the steps of the supreme Court building. An attempt was made to manually index every occurrence of the word "rights" in the Constitution. During that attempt, synonyms for the word right were discovered. Upon that discovery, the need for a better method to find and compile lists of phrases and words related to a topic became apparent. On July 5, 1989, code writing for the earliest version of the TCN Program began. Over the next 10 years, that code was improved and combined with other materials until it became the package now in your possession. CONCEPTS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND OF THE TCN PROGRAM If government is a restraining force in society and the Constitution proposes a form of self-government, then the ultimate source of that restraint, the ultimate source of self-government, is each and every individual Citizen - WE THE PEOPLE The Constitution explicitly states activities that are to be constrained by force. To avoid becoming subject to this force, an individual need only avoid engaging in those activities. It is a duty for each Citizen to know what activities the Constitution requires to be constrained by force. Beyond knowledge and the exercise of self-restraint regarding these activities, the duty of each Citizen extends to their informed oversight of other Citizens, who by virtue of holding Public Office, are charged with the application of constraint by force. Each Citizen has a vested self-interest in how Public officials apply constraint by force. Each Citizen has a legitimate concern to see that when an individual's activities merit it, Public officials apply the proper constraint by force. Also, each Citizen has a legitimate interest to see that when an individual's activities are wholly within Constitutional bounds, Public officials apply NO constraint by force. The duty to know and observe Constitutional constraints (regarding both self/individual behavior and application of force by Public officials) is a great duty. The privilege of living in a society thusly ordered is a great opportunity and in all of human history, a rare one, (perhaps the only one so far) for all members of a society to pursue happiness in an atmosphere of personal Liberty and safety. TCNbP Company considers the preceding text to express a central concept of the Constitution. The concept of the TCN program is to provide you with program features and information to help you decide for yourself and to your own satisfaction what the Constitution means.