Recovering the Lost Worlds of America's Written Constitutions

Authors

Christian G. Fritz, University of New Mexico - School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2005

Abstract

Recovering the Lost Worlds of America's Written Constitutions,' originating as the sixth Brennan Lecture delivered at Oklahoma City University Law School on November 7, 2002, explores the transformation of the right of revolution in the wake of the American Revolution. The significance of displacing the singular sovereign in the person of the king with the collective sovereign of 'the people,' gave rise to constitutional understandings that are at odds with today's constitutionalism that emphasizes the necessity of procedural regularity to effect legitimate constitutional revision. The article explores how 'circumvention' of such procedures was consistent with an earlier concept of the people who retained practical sovereignty.

Publication Title

Albany Law Review

Volume

68

First Page

261

Keywords

American Constitutionalism, Written Constitutions, Popular Sovereignty, Alter or Abolish Provisions, Bill of Rights, Sovereignty of the People, Constitutional Revision, Constitutional Tradition, Rule of Law, PeopleΓÇÖs Sovereignty, DorrΓÇÖs Rebellion, Right of Revolution

Recommended Citation

Christian G. Fritz, Recovering the Lost Worlds of America's Written Constitutions, 68 Albany Law Review 261 (2005).
Available at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/law_facultyscholarship/4

Comments

Previously published by Albany Law Review, State Constitutional Commentary