Solicitors General and the Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court decides some of the most challenging and important constitutional and statutory issues facing America through its interpretive methodologies. In this episode, we explore the various approaches to constitutional interpretation and key doctrines—including originalism, textualism, and the major questions doctrine—through the lens of recent Supreme Court cases with Solicitors General Ben Flowers of Ohio and Caroline Van Zile of Washington, D.C. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

This program is presented in partnership with the Center for Excellence in Governance at the National Association of Attorneys General.

Additional Resources

“The Major Questions Doctrine,” Congressional Research Service

Steven Calabresi, “On Originalism in Constitutional Interpretation,” Constitution Daily blog

“Textualism,” Cornell Law School: Legal Information Institute

Alabama Association of Realtors v. Department of Health and Human Services (2021)

Biden v. Nebraska

Bostock v. Clayton County (2020)

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022

Missouri v. Biden

National Federation of Independent Business v. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2022

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen (2022)

West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (2022)

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