Consider the Constitution

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, recorded close to the 2024 Juneteenth federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey interviews Dr. DeAnza Cook about the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) and their impact on the American justice system. Dr. Cook explains how the 13th Amendment abolished slavery but left a loophole allowing involuntary...

In this episode of "Consider the Constitution," Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey interviews Dr. Mila Versteeg , a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law, about modern democratic governance and the role of constitutions. They discuss the differences between the U.S. Constitution and those of other countries, the importance of citizens in enforcing constitutional rights, and the ch...

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, Professor Michael J Klarman delves into the intricate history behind the drafting and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He explores the compromises and debates between competing interest groups at the Constitutional Convention, the evolution of democracy since its ratification, and the unique challenges posed by the Constitution's rigidity. K...

Delve into the heart of the impeachment process in the U.S. Constitution with Professor Michael J. Gerhardt ,  a distinguished professor of jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina Law School. Explore the historical origins, the framers' intentions, and the complexities of holding high-ranking officials accountable. With insights into recent events and the evolving role of political...

Historian and author David O. Stewart joins host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey to discuss the leadership styles of key figures like George Washington and James Madison, and how their personalities and approaches to politics shaped the drafting of the U.S.  Constitution. Stewart emphasizes the importance of character in leadership, and how understanding the humanity of these historical figures can prov...

This episode considers the origins and development of policing and police-community relations in America.  DeAnza A. Cook, Assistant Professor of Contemporary African American History and Black Leadership at The Ohio State University , joins host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey to discuss the changes in law enforcement post-Civil War, the impact of the civil rights movement on law enforcement, and curre...

In this episode, Julie C. Suk, Professor of Law, at Fordham University School of Law discusses the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States . The discussion covers the history of the women's suffrage movement, the impact of the 19th Amendment, and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. Despite the 19th Amendment, many women, particularly African-American a...

In this episode, Dr. Danielle Charette , an expert on 18th-century political economy, discusses the economic instability faced by the newly independent states, the economic debates during the Constitutional Convention, and the economic theories influencing the founders. The podcast also explores the economic boom during the Gilded Age and the original intersection of capitalism and democracy in th...

In this episode, Dr. John Ragosta , a historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello , discusses the political turmoil in the 1790s. The period saw hyper-partisanship, with Federalists like John Adams and Alexander Hamilton supporting a strong central government, while Democratic Republicans like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison favored stronger state g...

Inside the debate between James Madison and Thomas Jefferson over the endurance of the U.S. Constitution. Jefferson believed that each generation should rewrite the Constitution, while Madison argued for a Constitution that endures over time to build up necessary reverence and respect. Host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey is joined by Skidmore College Political Science Professor Dr. Beau Breslin to disc...

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford Lackey discusses the right to vote, or suffrage, and how it functions as a mechanism for citizens to participate in the democratic process. Special guest, Dr. Pippa Holloway, a history professor at the University of Richmond, discusses the evolution of voting rights in the U.S., from the ambiguity surrounding citizenship and vot...

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey and Professor Kendra Johnson discuss the Fourth Amendment , which focuses on aspects of privacy.  The interpretation of the Fourth Amendment has evolved with technology, with cases involving wiretapping and cell phone searches setting precedents.  Professor Johnson discusses the historical context of the Fourth Amendment,...

In this episode of the Consider the Constitution podcast, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey interviews Tim Longo, Sr., a veteran law enforcement officer and current Associate Vice President for Safety and Security and Chief of Police at the University of Virginia . They discuss the role of law enforcement in upholding the Constitution, the importance of understanding the First Amendment, and the conc...

In this episode of Consider The Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey is joined by Suzanne Moore and Benjamin Eckert, Park Rangers of Interpretation at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, to discuss the drafting and ratification of the Bill of Rights .  Congress Hall in Philadelphia was the site of the ratification of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791.   During Cong...

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey is joined by Montpelier Senior Research Historian Hilarie M. Hicks for a conversation about the relationship between James Madison and the Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who became an icon of the American Revolution . The two men first met in 1784 and developed a deep friendship that was both politically advantageous a...

In the episode of "Consider the Constitution," host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lacky interviews constitutional law expert Prof. F. Michael Higginbotham . They discuss the role of the Supreme Court in American life, past and present. Higginbotham explains the court's function in interpreting laws and determining their consistency with the Constitution. They also discuss key Supreme Court cas...

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey is joined by Patrick Campbell , a retired US Marine Corps officer, attorney, veteran high school government teacher, and assistant director of the Center for the Constitution . Campbell discusses the Center for the Constitution's work engaging diverse audiences with the concept of government by the people. He also ta...

In this episode of the podcast "Consider the Constitution," host Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey discusses Article III of the US Constitution, which established the judicial branch. She is joined by Dr. Lauren Bell , a political science professor and former fellow at the United States Supreme Court. They discuss the brevity of Article III compared to other articles, the jurisdiction of the Sup...

Hear the best moments from all of our Constitution Month 2023 podcast episodes.  Join Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey as we consider The Bill of Rights, the First Amendment, the original text of the Constitution, the balance between government authority and civil liberties, the value of a free press, and the need for citizens to be politically and civically informed.

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, Dr. Katie Crawford-Lackey explores the essential relationship between news media and American democracy with Adam Belmar, former Deputy Director of White House Communications and Senior Producer at ABC News. The conversation examines how our founding document protects press freedom, the evolution of media from newspapers to social platforms, and why re...

In this episode of Consider the Constitution, we’re taking a deep dive into the sections or articles of the Constitution - the document as it was signed on September 17, 1787.  Our special guest is Dr. Jay Cost, the Gerald R. Ford nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) , where he focuses on elections, politics, and public opinion. He has published several books about...

Our special guest today on Consider the Constitution is Jade Ryerson, a scholar who is passionate about using public history to encourage civic engagement. Jade earned her master's degree in Heritage Studies and Public History from the University of Minnesota and currently serves as the historian with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. In this episode of the podcast, we discu...

Dr. Lynn Uzzell is a scholar steeped in the foundational principles of America’s constitutional republic. She earned her Ph. D. in politics from the Institute of Philosophical Studies at the University of Dallas and spent four years as a Scholar in Residence at the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier . In this episode, we discuss the Bill of Rights. What they are. Why they ar...