Subjects:

Legal History

Contents:

1. The framers’

classical education and world view

2. Classical political models and the founders

3. Constitution-making and ancient history

4. Modern resonances

5. The classical Constitution.

The framers of the American Constitution were substantially influenced by ancient history and classical political theory, as exemplified by their education, the availability of classical readings, and their inculcation in classical republican values. This volume explores how the framing generation deployed classical learning to develop many of the essential structural aspects of the Constitution: federalism, separation of powers, a bicameral legislature, independent courts, and the war and foreign relations powers. Also examined are very contemporary constitutional debates, for which there were classical inspirations, including sovereign immunity, executive privilege, line-item vetoes, and the electoral college. Combining techniques of intellectual history, classical studies, and constitutional interpretation, this book makes a unique contribution to our understanding of contemporary constitutionalism.

• Detailed analysis of essential constitutional law concepts and contemporary debates on constitutional issues
• Very close examination of classical sources to fully understand the impact of the classical tradition on the American constitution
• Highly readable and accessible to general readers