Located at the intersection of law, political science, philosophy, and literary theory, this is a work of constitutional theory that explores the nature of American constitutional interpretation through a reconsideration of the long-standing debate between the interpretive theories of originalism and nonoriginalism. It traces that debate to a particular set of premises about the nature of language, interpretation, and objectivity, premises that raise the specter of unconstrained, unstructured constitutional interpretation that has haunted contemporary constitutional theory. It presents the novel argument that a critique of the underlying premises of originalism dissolves not just originalism but nonoriginalism as well, which leads to the recognition that constitutional interpretation is already and always structured. It makes this argument in terms of the first principle of the American political system: by their fidelity to the Constitution, Americans are a textual people in that they live in and through the terms of a fundamental text.

It presents an innovative account of the democratic legitimacy and binding capacity of the Constitution.

About the Author
Dennis Goldford is Associate Professor of Politics at Drake University, where he has been teaching since 1985. He received his BA in political science and philosophy from the University of Michigan, an M. Litt. in philosophy from Oxford University, and an MA and PhD in political science from the University of Chicago. He teaches in the areas of political theory, American politics, and constitutional law.

Reviews
"Quite illuminating" Keith E. Whittington, Drake University



Book Information
ISBN 9780521607797
Author Dennis J. Goldford
Format Paperback
Page Count 318
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 430g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm