What Would Madison Think of the Presidency Today?

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 November 2019

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The National Constitution Center’s initiative, ‘A Madisonian Constitution for All,’ is launching an essay series where leading scholars explore what James Madison, the “father of the Constitution”, might think about the presidency, Congress, courts, and the media today. This week, two of the authors celebrate the launch of the series by diving into all things presidential – how the office was conceived of at the Founding, evolved throughout history, was impacted by the rise of political parties and partisanship, and increasingly expanded its power. They also give their takes on the current impeachment investigation. Scholars Sai Prakash and Sean Wilentz, authors of the ‘Madisonian Constitution for All’ essays on the presidency, join host Jeffrey Rosen. Questions or comments about the podcast? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and welcome
0:07.8	to We The People, a weekly show of constitutional debate.
0:11.7	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit chartered by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:22.0	And for those of you who are listening on Thanksgiving weekend,
0:25.0	happy Thanksgiving.
0:27.0	Next week the National Constitution Center will release a new essay series,
0:31.0	a Madisonian Constitution for all in these illuminating papers
0:36.1	leading scholars from diverse perspectives examine the state of the
0:40.0	Constitution today through the lens of James Madison they ask what the Constitution
0:47.6	think about our current presidency,
0:50.2	Congress, courts, and media, and how can we resurrect Madisonian values of reason rather
0:56.6	than passion in our polarized age?
1:00.1	Joining us to discuss James Madison's conception of presidential powers and what Madison might think of the presidency today are two of the authors of our great essays,
1:11.0	Saiprakash and Sean Willets.
1:14.4	Cy Prokash is James Monroe Distinguished Professor of Law
1:17.8	and Paul G Mahoney Research Professor of Law
1:20.5	at the University of Virginia Law School.
1:23.0	His forthcoming book, The Living Presidency,
1:26.6	an originalist argument against its ever-expanding powers,
1:30.9	will be published next year.
1:33.0	Sigh, it is great to have you back on the show.
1:35.0	Great to be with you folks.
	...

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