U-MN Law’s Ilan Wurman on U.S. Constitutional Originalism

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of Center for Strong Public Schools and retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson speak with Ilan Wurman, Julius E. Davis Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School, about constitutional originalism, textualism, and the enduring principles of the U.S. Constitution. Prof. Wurman discusses his new book, The Constitution of 1789, exploring the Constitution’s structure, separation of powers, federalism, and the Founders’ approach to legislative, executive, and judicial authority. He examines the intellectual influences that shaped the Founders, the significance of early state constitutions, and the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Prof. Wurman also considers debates between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, limits on executive power, the proper role of the Supreme Court, federalism, and the Fourteenth Amendment. He reflects on how originalist principles can help restore America’s system of ordered liberty. Finally, Prof. Wurman reads a passage from his book, The Constitution of 1789.