The Constitution, Democracy and US History

This seminar focuses on the intersections of constitutional theory, political history, and democratic legitimacy. First, we will examine how the U.S. Constitution has evolved over time, and who its drafters, amenders, and ratifiers have been. We will ask how that history shapes or undermines the Constitution’s legitimacy, drawing on varying theories of constitutionalism. Second, we will ask how interpreters of the Constitution draw on U.S. history, and how they justify using history in particular ways. In this portion we will focus on particular constitutional provisions as case studies.Third, we will ask how the Constitution and its interpretation may contribute to the foundations needed to sustain a democracy, focusing on instances beyond simply protections for political participation.