Constitutional Argument in the Antebellum Public Sphere

Session Submission Type: Panel Discussion

Abstract

In his book Constitutional Faith, Legal scholar Sanford Levinson identifies “protestant” and “catholic” strains in American constitutional argument. The “catholic” strain locates interpretive authority in the hierarchical structure of the nation’s courts; final authority rests with the priestly Supreme Court. The “protestant” strain defends the legitimacy of individualized and nonhierarchical communal interpretation. The panel’s three papers present case studies of the “protestant” strain of American constitutional argument.

Sub Unit

• Public Address Division

Chair

• Michael William Pfau, Univ of Minnesota, Duluth

Respondent

• Michael William Pfau, Univ of Minnesota, Duluth

Session Organizer

• James Jasinski, Univ of Puget Sound