The Changing Constitution

Reviews / Votes

'On American constitutional law, Richard Fallon is the best in the business. This is a masterful guide not only to the current situation, but also to the arc of constitutional history. Essential reading.' Cass R. Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor, Harvard University, and author of How to Interpret the Constitution 'A fascinating and timely assessment of the current state of American constitutional law, how we got here, and where we might be going.' Keith E. Whittington, David Boies Professor, Yale Law School 'Richard Fallon is one of America's premier constitutional scholars. The Changing Constitution is his magnum opus. Its accessible narrative poses challenges to originalists (like me) and nonoriginalists alike. The Changing Constitution is a must-read for anyone who cares about how the constitutional law that the Supreme Court has developed to implement the US Constitution has changed over the years.' Randy E. Barnett,, Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown Law, and author of A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist 'Professor Fallon has brilliantly but accessibly demonstrated how the current Supreme Court may well determine if we are, in Ben Franklin's words, 'to keep' our Republic.' Russell Feingold, former US Senator 'Richard Fallon demonstrates that the Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, is always a necessarily changing 'work in progress.' Yet he demonstrates also how the contemporary conservative - or, perhaps more accurately labeled, 'radical' - majority of the Court is testing the limits of such changes. He therefore concludes with a thoughtful meditation on what explains viewing Supreme Court decisions as legitimate statements of 'law' rather than imposed political decisions. Written in graceful prose, the book should be especially helpful for general readers trying to understand the contemporary Court.' Sanford Levinson, University of Texas Law School, author of Constitutional Faith 'Any scholar, student, or general reader seeking a clear-headed, accessible, and comprehensive account of constitutional law in the Trump era - where we are, how we got there, and where we might be headed - will find no better book. Fallon is unmatched in his ability concisely to articulate the competing understandings of our constitutional commitments, to demonstrate the place and selectivity of originalism in our constitutional practice, and to combine interpretive charity with incisive criticism.' James E. Fleming, The Honorable Paul J. Liacos Professor of Law, Boston University School of Law