How to Interpret the Constitution / Cass R. Sunstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sunstein, Cass R., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Supreme Court.

United States.

Constitutional history--United States--18th century.

Constitutional history.

United States--Politics and government--1789-1809.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (208 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2023]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

"The U.S. Supreme Court has eliminated the right to abortion and is revisiting other fundamental questions today—about voting rights, affirmative action, gun laws, and much more. Once-arcane theories of constitutional interpretation are profoundly affecting the lives of all Americans. In this brief and urgent book, Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein provides a lively introduction to competing approaches to interpreting the Constitution—and argues that the only way to choose one is to ask whether it would change American life for the better or worse. If a method of interpretation would eliminate the right of privacy, allow racial segregation, or obliterate free speech, it would be unacceptable for that reason. But some Supreme Court justices are committed to “originalism,” arguing that the meaning of the Constitution is settled by how it was publicly understood when it was ratified. Originalists insist that their approach is dictated by the Constitution. That, Sunstein argues, is a big mistake. The Constitution doesn’t contain instructions for its own interpretation. Any approach to constitutional interpretation needs to be defended in terms of its broad effects—what it does to our rights and our institutions. It must respect those rights and institutions—and safeguard the conditions for democracy itself." publisher's website.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Theories of Interpretation

2. The Inevitability of Choice

3. The Oath of Office

4. How to Choose

5. Traditions: "Athwart History, Yelling Stop"

6. Where to Stand

Acknowledgments

Index

The Constitution of the United States

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691252056

069125205X

OCLC:

1393967886