In honor of Constitution Day this year, I took the lead on behalf of the National Constitutional Literacy Campaign on the publication of a Washington Times special section on the President and the Constitution. The special report includes articles from Senators Patrick Leahy and Mike Lee, among many others.
On the eve of tomorrow night’s presidential debate, I hope folks will consider reading, reflecting, and learning from the public officials, scholars and civic education advocates who submitted articles on this timely topic. It’s a great presidential debate primer.
The full special section is available in PDF form here.
Articles include:
Section 1: Citizens, Civic Knowledge, and Presidential Elections
(1) Julie Silverbrook, Why A Call for Civic Education and Constitutional Literacy?
(2) Julie Silverbrook, Student Competitions Spark Optimism, Civic Involvement
(3) Charles Quigley, Effective Civic Education Produces Informed Voters
(4) Dr. Michael Poliakoff, Civic Illiteracy and Civic Disempowerment
(5) Jeff Hymas, A Democratic or Republican Election?
(6) Kyle Kondik, ‘Tyranny of the Swing States’?
(7) Meg Heubeck and Gerard Ferri, Get in the Game: Empowering America’s Next Generation to Vote
Section 2: Congress and the President
(1) Congressman George Nethercutt, Founders Intended ‘Tension’ In Co-Equal Branches
(2) Dr. Robert J. Spitzer, Political Gridlock, Past and Present
(3) Senator Patrick Leahy, Constitution Day: Protection Our Democracy
(4) Senator Mike Lee, The Battle to ‘Keep’ the American Republic
(5) Dr. Matthew Spalding, Congress and the New Imperial Presidency
Section 3: The Courts and the President
(1) Elizabeth Wydra, The President, the Constitution, and the Supreme Court
(2) Dr. Louis Fisher, How Courts Expand Presidential Power Beyond Constitutional Limits
(3) Ken Gormley, Presidents and the Supreme Court: Public Battles and Quiet Respect
Section 4: The Media and the President
(1) Julie Silverbrook, The Constitution on the Campaign Trail in 2016
(2) David Keene, the ‘Genius’ of the Constitution
(3) Janine Turner and Andrew Langer, Is the Media Responsible for the Too-Power Presidency?
(4) Shoshana Weissman, How Social Media Gives Public Opinion Wings
Section 5: The Expansion of Presidential Authority
(1) Tim Donner, The Ever-Expanding Power of the Presidency
(2) Josh Blackman, Unteaching Professor Obama’s Constitutional Lessons
(3) Dr. Jason Stevens, Calvin Coolidge and the ‘two minds’ of the American Presidency
Julie Silverbrook's Blog 