Institute for Constitutional Studies
Director of the Institute for Constitutional Studies: Maeva Marcus, Research Professor of Law
The Institute for Constitutional Studies (ICS), created in 1999 and initially funded by a challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, continues its work to improve knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and its history throughout all levels of higher education. Seeking to make the study of the Constitution a regular and vibrant part of both the law school and the liberal arts curriculum, the Institute promotes an inclusive, interdisciplinary approach to interpreting the Constitution.
Though based in the nation’s capital, it serves lawyers, scholars, educators, and students throughout the country by sponsoring seminars on multiple aspects of constitutional development throughout American history. Outstanding scholars, including Akhil Amar, Jack Rakove, William Leuchtenburg, Gordon Wood, Larry Kramer, Mark Tushnet, Michael McConnell, Mark Noll, John Fabian Witt, Annette Gordon-Reed, Robert Post, Reva Siegel, Barry Cushman, Linda Greenhouse, Sanford Levinson, Alice Kessler-Harris, Robert Gordon, Sean Wilentz, Risa Goluboff, and Mary Bilder, have led seminars in the past. The Institute has created a nationwide network of scholars and teachers intent on promoting a greater awareness of the importance of the Constitution in American history and American life.
Events
Institute for Constitutional Studies Seminar: Legal History of the Warren Court
Starting August 26, 2024
Location: GW Law
This seven-session seminar looks at the Warren Court from a historical perspective. Guided by articles by legal historians, we will explore the Court’s major cases and issues in their historical and political context: school desegregation, the Little Rock school crisis, denaturalization, access to justice, prayer in schools, redistricting, civil rights sit-ins/freedom of the press, right to privacy/access to contraception, criminal justice, and interracial marriage. We will also discuss the strong personalities and jurisprudential philosophies of the Justices and how alliances, conflicts, and new Justices affected the Court’s decision making.