Hopkins Embarks on School-Wide Reading of the U.S. Constitution

Speaking on the 230th anniversary of the document’s publication, Professor Amar challenged students to be fluent and probing with the document, understanding that each generation has the opportunity to propose amendments for its own time. “We have to remember that people died for the ideas in the Constitution,” Amar said. Speaking to the rules of interpretation, Amar contrasted the “originalists” with the “living” constitutionalists and encouraged students to live in both worlds by taking the words seriously, yet “hear the music” of meaning.

Calarco Library will feature several exhibits on the Constitution throughout the year, including “Emancipation and Its Legacies: 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments”, “The Progressive Era: Creating Modern American” and “Freedom Riders: The Fight for Civil Rights”. Also, a panel discussion on “Constitutional Issues in the Media” and Mock Trials from Mr. Levy’s Constitutional Law Class will also take place. For information on dates click here

Students and families make pick up a free copy of the U.S. Constitution, available at the reception desk in Baldwin Hall and in Calarco Library.

Watch Professor Amar's address in the attached videos.