I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome

to We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.

The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit chartered by Congress

to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.

In August 1787, the the report. That was the second draft of the Constitution that was circulated.

I know that because in the Constitution Centers, American Treasures Gallery, we have the major

drafts July 24th, August 3rd, September 12th, and September 17th.

And that's as good an occasion as any to talk about the debate between the Federalist and

the Anti-Federalists.

How did their unique constitutional visions influence the drafting and ratification

of the Constitution during those crucial months between May and September 1787, and how should

we interpret the Constitution today in the light of those debates.

Joining us to explore this foundational question between the anti-Federalists and Federalists

are two of America's leading scholars of the Constitution, and

I'm honored to welcome both of them.

Jack Rakoff is the William Robertson Co, Professor of History American studies and professor of political science and law at Stanford.

He is the author of six books including original meanings, politics and ideas in the making of the Constitution which won the Pulitzer Prize in history.

Jack, it is wonderful to have you back with us.

Great to be here.

And Michael Rappaport is the Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation Professor of Law and Director of the Center for the Study of Constitutional Originalism at the University of San Diego School of Law.

He previously worked in the Office of Legal Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice, and is the author of

Originalism and The Good Constitution, co-written with John McGinnis.

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