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Constitutional Studies

Unique to Notre Dame, the constitutional studies field involves research and teaching about political phenomena through the analysis of regimes. We examine foundational principles across various constitutional arrangements and seek to understand how these principles distribute power, form citizens, and order different ways of life.

We study fundamental questions such as:

How are political communities constituted?
What are the possible types of regimes?
Who holds ruling power?
What principles of justice animate competing claims to rule?
What is the relation of constitutional and international arrangements to economic and administrative institutions, education, religious, civic, and social associations, and the family?
Are there unique patterns and trends in constitutions across different political regimes, domestic legal traditions, and geographical regions?
How are various regimes—especially America’s constitutional democracy—threatened, strengthened, and preserved?

Constitutional studies embraces a conception of political science shared by thinkers from Aristotle to the authors of The Federalist and beyond — that the education of citizens and leaders directs the political community to the public good. A substantial part of our program is thus devoted to the different conceptions of the public interest, especially as they have been articulated and debated in the American political and constitutional tradition.

Outstanding faculty

Constitutional studies faculty excel in research areas such as American constitutionalism, the political philosophy of the American founding, ancient and comparative constitutionalism, international law, the Islamic legal tradition, and liberal political and constitutional thought. Our faculty pursue scholarly topics, including the proper approach to constitutional interpretation, natural rights and philosophical foundations of rights, liberalism, international law and international courts, differences and similarities between ancient and modern constitutionalism, how judicial actors behave, and Catholicism and constitutionalism.

Notre Dame constitutional studies faculty regularly publish in top political science peer-reviewed journals and university presses. Among the subfield’s strengths are its methodological and ideological diversity and its partnership with Notre Dame’s Law School. The subfield includes many faculty members devoted to Notre Dame’s Catholic mission.

Graduate study in constitutional studies

Ph.D. students find Constitutional Studies both intellectually rigorous and extraordinarily rewarding, all within a nurturing and supportive community. The subfield has been very successful in placing Ph.D. students in tenure-track faculty positions and post-doctoral fellowships.

Constitutional studies graduate students have pursued dissertations on a range of topics, including the political and constitutional thought of Frederick Douglass, American church-state jurisprudence, federalism and American constitutionalism, Aristotle’s constitutionalism, methods of constitutional interpretation, and the political theory of The Federalist.

Students in the subfield also have the opportunity to participate in a dual-degree program with Notre Dame’s Law School that allows outstanding students to graduate with a J.D. and a Ph.D. Students can enroll in classes taught by law faculty that are concurrent members of the Department of Political Science.

Undergraduate study in constitutional studies

The College of Arts & Letters offers an undergraduate minor in constitutional studies. Building on courses across the College, the minor encourages students to confront fundamental questions concerning justice, the rule of law, and human flourishing. Through coursework and extracurricular experiences with the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government, students explore challenging questions from a variety of historical, cultural, disciplinary, and philosophical perspectives.

Field highlights

Christina Bambrick stands with arms crossed stands in front of the Kellogg Institute at the University of Notre Dame. A translucent overlay of the U.S. Constitution covers the image.

Christina Bambrick explores extending constitutional duties to private actors

The logo for the University of Notre Dame's Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government. A gold quill pen is positioned above the center's name.

Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government Lecture Library

Headshot of a Patrick Deneen with short graying hair and blue-rimmed glasses. He wears a navy blue suit jacket, white and blue checkered dress shirt, and a patterned tie. He looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression against a plain gray background.

Notre Dame Magazine: Democracy and its Discontents, by Patrick Deneen

Faculty

  1. Christina Bambrick headshot. A woman with long dark brown hair streaked with gray. She wears a black blazer over a black and white floral blouse. She looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. Books are visible on shelves behind her, and a framed photo is partially visible over her right shoulder.

    Christina Bambrick

    Filip Family Assistant Professor of Political Science

  2. Sue Collins

    Susan D. Collins

    Associate Professor

  3. Patrick Deneen headshot. A Caucasian man with salt-and-pepper hair wearing a navy blue suit and blue glasses over a blue and gray patterned tie. He is posing for a headshot against a gray background.

    Patrick J. Deneen

    Professor

  4. Matthew Hall headshot. A white man wearing glasses and a blue button-down shirt smiles warmly in an office setting.

    Matthew E.K. Hall

    David A. Potenziani Memorial College Professor of Constitutional Studies

  5. Mary Keys headshot. A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing glasses and a black collared shirt, smiling against a blurred green, leafy background.

    Mary M. Keys

    Professor

  6. Vincent Munoz headshot. A man with salt and pepper hair wearing a blue suit jacket and patterned tie looks directly at the camera. A University of Notre Dame lapel pin is visible on his jacket.

    Vincent Phillip Muñoz

    Tocqueville Professor of Political Science

  7. Emilia Justyna Powell headshot. A woman with long, dark hair and fair skin smiles at the camera against a brown backdrop. She is wearing a navy blue shirt with gold polka dots and a gold design on the front.

    Emilia Justyna Powell

    Professor

Concurrent Faculty

  1. Anthony J. Bellia Jr. headshot. A man wearing a suit and tie, smiling in front of a bookshelf. He has short brown hair and is wearing a dark suit jacket over a light blue collared shirt. His tie has a geometric pattern in maroon and cream.

    Anthony Bellia

    O’Toole Professor of Constitutional Law

  2. Paolo Carozza headshot. A man wearing a navy blue suit jacket, light purple collared shirt, and a blue and pink striped tie. He has short dark hair and is smiling slightly at the camera. The background is blurred and appears to be an orange and brown patterned wall.

    Paolo Carozza

    Professor of Law

  3. Barry Cushman headshot. A man wearing a navy blue patterned suit, white collared shirt, and a dark blue tie with small white polka dots. He has short graying hair and a light beard. He looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression. A blurred indoor background suggests he is inside a building.

    Barry Cushman

    John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law

  4. Rich Garnett headshot. A balding man with glasses wearing a white and light brown checked button-down shirt, smiling at the camera. He is standing in front of a blurred, tan background.

    Richard Garnett

    Paul J. Schierl/Fort Howard Corporation Professor

  5. Jimmy Gurule headhsot. A man with a mustache wearing a dark suit and light blue and purple striped tie against a dark background.

    Jimmy Gurule

    Professor of Law

  6. O. Carter Snead headshot. A smiling man with a shaved head, full beard, and blue collared shirt. He is positioned in front of a bookshelf slightly blurred in the background.

    O. Carter Snead

    The Charles E. Rice Professor of Law

Partners

Constitutional studies faculty and students are supported by and regularly participate in the wide variety of resources available at Notre Dame, including:

  • The logo for the University of Notre Dame's Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government. A gold quill pen is positioned above the center's name.

    Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government

    Seeks to cultivate thoughtful and educated citizens by supporting scholarship and education concerning the ideas and institutions of constitutional government.

  • DeNicola Center for Ethics and Culture logo. A stylized, flaming scroll with the ND monogram is beside the center's name.

    deNicola Center for Ethics & Culture

    Committed to sharing the richness of the Catholic moral and intellectual tradition through teaching, research, and public engagement, at the highest level and across a range of disciplines.

  • Hesburgh Program in Public Service, a public policy minor.

    Hesburgh Program in Public Service

    Offers an interdisciplinary minor in the College of Arts and Letters designed for undergraduate students interested in public policy or public service.

  • The Institute for Ethics and the Common Good logo. A stylized green tree with several leaves rises from a dark green half-circle base. The roots of the tree form a Y shape inside the base. The text "INSTITUTE FOR Ethics and the Common Good" appears to the right of the logo.

    Institute for Ethics and the Common Good

    Facilitates interdisciplinary research in foundational and applied ethics, coordinates projects that cross departments and units, and supports ethics-related education and public engagement efforts.

  • Kellogg Institute for International Studies logo. A maroon oval containing a faint world map graphic and the letters "Ki" in white sits to the left of a gold vertical line. To the right of the line, the words "Kellogg Institute" are written in navy blue above the words "for International Studies" in gold.

    Kellogg Institute for International Studies

    Promotes research excellence on critical global challenges, with a particular focus on democracy and human development.

  • Nanovic Institute for European Studies logo. A navy blue crest with curved lines inside and a gold star above it is positioned to the left of a gold vertical line. To the right of the line, the words "NANOVIC INSTITUTE" appear in navy blue, stacked above the words "FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES" in gold.

    Nanovic Institute for European Studies

    Strengthens Notre Dame’s presence in Europe, deepens the understanding of Europe within the Notre Dame community, and contributes to academic discourse and research on European studies.

  • The Democracy Initiative logo at the University of Notre Dame. The words "Democracy Initiative" appear above a horizontal line, with the University of Notre Dame logo below. The University logo depicts a gold shield with a cross, book, and star along with wavy lines beneath. Latin words appear on the open book.

    Notre Dame Democracy Initiative

    Establishing Notre Dame as a leader in the study of democracy both in the U.S. and worldwide, as a convenor for conversations about and actions to preserve democracy, and as a model for the formation of civically engaged citizens and public servants.

  • The University of Notre Dame Law School logo. The logo features the university crest in gold with a cross, open book, and waves, alongside the text "University of Notre Dame." Above the logo is the text "Law School."

    Notre Dame Program on Church, State, and Society

    Studying the social dimension of religious freedom and how law structures the relationships among church, state, and society.

  • The University of Notre Dame Law School logo. The logo features the university crest in gold with a cross, open book, and waves, alongside the text "University of Notre Dame." Above the logo is the text "Law School."

    Notre Dame Religious Liberty Initiative

    One of the world’s leading academic institutions dedicated to promoting and defending religious freedom.

  • The University of Notre Dame Washington Program logo. A stylized "W" is formed by colorful triangles in shades of purple, teal, maroon, and gold. The words “The University of Notre Dame” appear in small type above “Washington Program” in larger, bold letters.

    Notre Dame Washington Program

    Offers students the ability to study off-campus, becoming immersed in the political and cultural life of Washington DC.

Events

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