Constitution of Practice

What is tradition in American constitutional law, and what is its enduring appeal in American culture? In The Constitution of Practice, Marc O. DeGirolami presents and defends his theory of constitutional law, one rooted in our political, legal, and cultural experience. He argues that constitutional traditions are the ways in which we manifest, give concrete form to, and transmit political excellence across time. He explains how traditions also bind us to one another, strengthening the civic affection necessary to a democratic republic. Responding to several criticisms, the author discusses the relationship of constitutional method and American politics, evaluating traditionalism's political adhesion and its prospects in the coming decades. At a time when Americans increasingly do not trust their institutions, DeGirolami explores how a traditionalist approach to the Constitution can begin to repair the disaffection that many now feel for their legal institutions.

Marc O. DeGirolami is a scholar of constitutional law at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. His publications include The Tragedy of Religious Freedom (2013) and articles in several legal journals as well as in The New York Times, The New Republic, First Things, and Public Discourse. He has been a Visiting Professor and Visiting Fellow at Princeton University's Department of Politics and in the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions. He teaches Constitutional Law, Freedom of Speech & Inquiry, Law & Religion, and Torts.