The Bill of Rights Institute – Bias and Credibility

RIGHT-CENTER BIAS

These media sources are slight to moderately conservative in bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.

Overall, we rate the Bill of Rights Institute Right-Center biased based on funding, ownership, and advocacy that favors a libertarian perspective. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

The Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1999 by Charles Koch. The Bill of Rights Institute states its mission as empowering students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society through civic education.

The organization offers educational resources and programs for teachers and students on the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other documents and ideas that shaped America. They provide professional development opportunities to teachers and run student programs and scholarship contests. Their resources are designed to help students understand the Constitution and Bill of Rights and to participate in civic life.

The Institute has published over 4,000 resources, including hundreds of YouTube videos and current events lessons. The site is intended for users who are 13 years of age or older. They are headquartered in Arlington, VA.

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

The Bill of Rights Institute is a non-profit organization. The website transparently lists its top funders on its Frequently Asked Question page. Notable donors include Armstrong Foundation, Charles Koch Foundation, and Anschutz Foundation. The organization is also a part of the State Policy Network, a group of free-market think tanks in the U.S. with ties to the Koch organization. Finally, in October 2022, The Bill of Rights Institute partnered with the right-leaning libertarian think-tank, the Hoover Institution.

Analysis / Bias

The Bill of Rights Institute provides educational resources designed to be neutral and fact-based. For instance, they have a debate section where they publish debates such as “Should ChatGPT Be Banned from Classrooms?” which presents the topic and provides arguments for both sides. The “Current Standing” section also allows students to post their perspectives on the topic.

Further, The Bill of Rights Institute curates current news articles that connect with U.S. history, government, and civics classrooms. For instance, the article “Supreme Court rejects affirmative action, ending use of race as factor in college admissions” is not hosted on the Bill of Rights Institute’s website but rather from the CBS News website. The story is about the Supreme Court’s decision to reject affirmative action in college admissions. They often curate from CBS News, Seattle Times, and NY Times, as well as some stories from Oyez Project, such as here.

The Bill of Rights Institute offers comprehensive curricula designed to provide educators with primary-source-based resources for U.S. history, civics, and government instruction. All of these resources are available free of charge. Notable offerings include Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, American Portraits, profiles of influential American figures, and Congress and the Constitution, focusing on the legislative branch’s role. Finally, an example lesson plan for grades 9 through 12 touches on African American History, Liberty, and Slavery. These resources give educators and students insights into the nation’s history and civic values.

While the content reviewed was fact-based, the Bill of Rights Institute has been criticized for “cherry-picking the Constitution, history, and current events to promote a libertarian message that the owners of private property should be free to manage their wealth as they see fit.” For example, under the Documents of Freedom, they present the pro-business libertarian opinion that “When government officials can make any laws they please—and hold themselves above the law—there is less economic growth, less creativity, and less happiness.” In general, they hold a right-leaning libertarian bias.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate the Bill of Rights Institute Right-Center biased based on funding, ownership, and advocacy that favors a libertarian perspective. We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing and a clean fact-check record. (M. Huitsing 08/06/2023)

Source: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/

Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check