Should the Supreme Court Focus on the Original Meaning of the Constitution?, A Debate

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Summary

Since the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, Americans have debated how the document, which sets forth the structure of the U.S. government, should be interpreted and applied. Some argue that t...

Since the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, Americans have debated how the document, which sets forth the structure of the U.S. government, should be interpreted and applied. Some argue that the U.S. Supreme Court, which oversees the federal judiciary, should focus on the Constitution's original meaning as the drafters understood it. This approach, supporters contend, keeps the Constitution fixed and understandable by all and limits the powers of the federal government. Opponents of this approach argue that the drafters themselves disagreed on the meaning of many of the terms in the Constitution and how they should be applied. The United States has evolved enormously over the past 200 years, they contend, and the Supreme Court's interpretation of the document should evolve as well. Should the Supreme Court focus on the original meaning of the Constitution?

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