We the People cover image

We the People

Can the Constitution Serve as a Document of National Unity?

Jun 13, 2024
Authors Yuval Levin and Aziz Rana debate whether the Constitution can foster national unity, discussing critiques of constitutionalism, the evolution of presidential power, interpretations of the framers' goals, historical context, challenges of administrative agencies, the rise of originalism, and the limitations of originalism, advocating for constitutional reforms and mass mobilization to uphold democratic values.
01:02:52

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Originalism evolved from judicial restraint to broader constitutional vision, sparking conservative debates on interpretation.
  • Originalism aimed to guide judges but some embraced activism, deviating from the initial goal.

Deep dives

Origins and Goals of Originalism

Originalism emerged as a theory of judicial restraint aimed at guiding judges in interpreting the Constitution. Initially focused on restraining judges and enabling Congress and the President to perform their roles, it evolved into a comprehensive constitutional vision. Originalists disagree on interpretation in unclear cases, with some advocating for broader constitutional ideals. It aims to restrict the judiciary's role, but some judges have used it to justify activism, deviating from the original intent.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode