How to Interpret the Constitution: A Citizen’s Guide

New York Times bestselling author Cass Sunstein unveils his new book, How to Interpret the Constitution—a citizen’s guide to the rival approaches of originalism and living constitutionalism. Sunstein is joined by leading constitutional expert Philip Bobbitt of Columbia Law School to discuss the current controversies surrounding constitutional interpretation and provide their takes on the competing methodologies. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Participants

Philip Bobbitt is the Herbert Wechsler Professor of Federal Jurisprudence at Columbia Law School. He is the author of 10 books, including Constitutional Fate; Constitutional Interpretation; and his most recent work is a new edition of the authoritative Impeachment: A Handbook, written in 1974 by Charles Black.

Cass Sunstein is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. He is the author of dozens of books, including the New York Times bestseller Nudge (with Richard H. Thaler); On Freedom; #Republic; and The World According to Star Wars. His newest book is How to Interpret the Constitution.

Additional Resources

Cass Sunstein, How to Interpret the Constitution

Phillip Bobbitt, Constitutional Fate

National Constitution Center's Constitution 101 Activity Guide: Introduction to the Methods of Constitutional Interpretation

National Constitution Center's Constitution 101: Methodologies of Constitutional Interpretation

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

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