One Text, Many Meanings – Interpreting the US Constitution

We tend to assume that the language of our Constitution is clear, but the current trend of controversial Supreme Court decisions reveals the complexity, tension, and ambiguity lurking beneath the seemingly placid surface of Constitutional text.  In this presentation Dr. Eric Boyer, Professor of Political Science at Colby-Sawyer College, will present four different methods of interpreting the language of the United States Constitution.  Through a focus on the evolution of the right to privacy Professor Boyer will reveal how different interpretive frameworks can lead to radically divergent views on issues like contraception, abortion, and marriage equality.