Madison's Vision and Revisions: Looking Back on the Constitution's Father

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 April 2026

⏱️ 46 minutes

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Summary

In this episode we’re sharing a live conversation that explores James Madison’s vision for the constitution with Mary Sarah Bilder of Boston College Law School, Robert P. George, of Princeton University, and Jonathan Rauch of The Brookings Institution. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. This conversation was recorded on February 20, 2026, as part of the NCC’s President’s Council Retreat in Miami, FL. Resources Mary Sarah Bilder, Madison's Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention (2017) Mary Sarah Bilder, Female Genius: Eliza Harriot and George Washington at the Dawn of the Constitution (2022) Robert P. George, Making Men Moral: Civil Liberties and Public Morality (1995) Robert P. George, Natural Rights, the Common Good, and the American Revolution (America at 250) (2026) Jonathan Rauch, Cross Purposes: Christianity's broken bargain with democracy (2025) Jonathan Rauch, The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth (2021) Federalist 10 (1787) Robert Tracy McKenzie, We the Fallen People: The Founders and the Future of American Democracy (2021) National Constitution Center, What the Founders Meant by Happiness: A Journey Through Virtue and Character Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, this is We the People.
0:07.5	I'm Julie Silverbrook, Chief Content and Learning Officer.
0:11.2	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit chartered by Congress
0:15.2	to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:20.4	As the center marks the 250th anniversary of the nation,
0:23.6	we're taking a closer look at the people, events, and ideas
0:26.6	that set the American Revolution in motion,
0:29.6	and ultimately led to the creation and adoption
0:31.6	of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
0:35.6	In this episode, we're sharing a recent live conversation exploring James Madison's legacy
0:40.3	and his vision for the Constitution with Mary Sarah Builder of Boston College Law School,
0:46.3	Robert P. George of Princeton University, and Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution.
0:53.3	We want to explore Madison as a thinker who wrestles with disagreement,
0:58.0	compromise, ambitions, and the practical challenges of self-government, which we still do today.
1:03.0	I want to start with a big question for each of you.
1:06.0	What is one aspect of Madison's thinking that you find especially illuminating and one limitation or unresolved tension that most shapes how you understand is legacy?
1:16.6	And we'll start with Mary.
1:18.5	I love that question.
1:19.9	And I have to say, luckily, I brought my pocket constitution.
1:24.0	I was so...
1:24.9	And thank you so much for choosing ours.
1:26.6	Well, I was so convinced. I almost didn't pack it because I was like, oh, they always give these away at the NCC. But you didn't. Well, no, we don't we have our special edition ones for America 250? Yeah, are they out? Yeah, you have to get an updated one. Well, it wasn't in the little bag. Anyway, luckily Luckily luckily last time I was down at the NCC doing a teacher's thing, I grabbed one of these free ones.
	...

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