The Normative Constitution: Essays for the Third Century

In what sense is the U.S. Constitution binding on contemporary and future generations of Americans? This question was at stake in the fights over the nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court and in the extensive debate over ‘original intent’ carried on by Attorney General Edwin Meese and Chief Justice William Rehnquist, among others. This collection brings together ten leading philosophers, legal scholars, and political scientists representing a spectrum of opinions.