James Madison's Constitution: A Double Security and a Parchment Barrier - Paperback

by Eric T. Kasper (Author), Howard Schweber (Editor), Jack N. Rakove (Contribution by)

In James Madison's Constitution, Eric T. Kasper and Howard Schweber have assembled a roster of ten prominent contributors to excavate Madison's thinking about key concepts and issues over questions of what the Constitution requires, permits, and prohibits. Madison's key role at the Constitution's drafting was instrumental in forging the document into what it is today.

In many areas, the modern Constitution still reflects Madison's conception and design. In other areas, however, the Constitution as it emerged in a final text--and as it has been amended and interpreted to the present day--does not always conform to Madison's vision. Nevertheless, examining Madison's thinking across a range of constitutional issues has much to offer for understanding our nation's primary governing document today. Indeed, there are great disagreements among jurists, policymakers, journalists, academics, and the general public about how to interpret the Constitution and what various clauses mean. Frequently, Madison is cited as a source on both sides of political, scholarly, and legal debates over the meaning of various constitutional provisions.

CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Broadwater, Paul Finkelman, Zachary K. German, Alan R. Gibson, Jack N. Rakove, David J. Siemers, Quentin P. Taylor, George Thomas, Lynn Uzzell, and Michael P. Zuckert

Author Biography

Eric T. Kasper (Editor)
ERIC T. KASPER is professor of political science and director of the Menard Center for Constitutional Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he teaches classes on U.S. constitutional law, the freedom of speech, the judiciary, and political philosophy. Kasper has previously authored, coauthored, or coedited seven books, and he has authored or coauthored nineteen journal articles and book chapters.

Howard Schweber (Editor)
HOWARD SCHWEBER is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where for more than twenty years he taught classes on the U.S. Constitution, comparative constitutionalism, American public law, and democratic and legal theory. Schweber has previously authored or coauthored six books and more than forty journal articles and book chapters and is the editor of the journal Constitutional Studies.