We the People

For or Against Constitutional Originalism?

Listen Later

Jonathan Gienapp of Stanford University and Stephen Sachs of Harvard Law School join Chief Scholar Thomas Donnelly to discuss Gienapp’s new book, Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique. They review the history of originalism and debate the role of originalism in constitutional interpretation today. This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s America’s Town Hall program series on October 8, 2024. 


Resources: 
  • Jonathan Gienapp, “Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique” (2024) 
  • Stephen Sachs and Will Baude, “Originalism and the Law of the Past” (Law and History Review, 2019) 
  • Michael Stokes Paulsen and Vasen Kesavan, “Is West Virginia Unconstitutional?” (90 Cal L. Rev. 291, 2002) 
  • William Baude, Jud Campbell, and Stephen Sachs, “General Law and the Fourteenth Amendment” (76 Stanford L. Rev 1185, 2024) 
  • Jud Campbell, “Four Views of the Nature of the Union” (47 Harvard J. Law & Public Policy 2, 2024) 
  • Fletcher v. Peck (1810) 
  • District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) 
  • United States v. Rahimi (2024) 


    Stay Connected and Learn More
    • Questions or comments about the show? Email us at [email protected]
    • Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr.
    • Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate.
    • Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen.
    • Join us for an upcoming live program or watch recordings on YouTube.
    • Support our important work.


      • Donate

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store
      We the PeopleBy National Constitution Center
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      1,052 ratings

      More shows like We the People

      View all
      Left, Right & Center by KCRW

      Left, Right & Center

      5,017 Listeners

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

      The Political Scene | The New Yorker

      3,908 Listeners

      Bloomberg Law by Bloomberg

      Bloomberg Law

      357 Listeners

      The Lawfare Podcast by The Lawfare Institute

      The Lawfare Podcast

      6,286 Listeners

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts by Slate Podcasts

      Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts

      3,461 Listeners

      Live at the National Constitution Center by National Constitution Center

      Live at the National Constitution Center

      140 Listeners

      U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments by Oyez

      U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments

      679 Listeners

      Civics 101 by NHPR

      Civics 101

      2,502 Listeners

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

      Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

      6,742 Listeners

      The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

      The Bulwark Podcast

      11,524 Listeners

      Talking Feds by Harry Litman

      Talking Feds

      4,564 Listeners

      Strict Scrutiny by Crooked Media

      Strict Scrutiny

      5,521 Listeners

      Advisory Opinions by The Dispatch

      Advisory Opinions

      3,753 Listeners

      The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

      The Ezra Klein Show

      15,321 Listeners

      Amarica's Constitution by Akhil Reed Amar

      Amarica's Constitution

      359 Listeners

      Divided Argument by Will Baude, Dan Epps

      Divided Argument

      663 Listeners