“Evening Conversations” Hidden Laws: How State Constitutions Stabilize American Politics

Featured Speaker:
Professor Robinson Woodward-Burns, Political Science, Howard University


The public is always excited about big, federal legislation that affects the whole country. But they might not realize that some of the biggest changes in national government actually started at the state level. Sometimes, it’s these local politics that end up having the biggest impact.

As Woodrow Wilson said back in 1908, “The question of the relation of the States to the Federal Government is the cardinal question of our constitutional system.” The development of that relationship is the backbone of our government, with State Constitutions existing in synchronization with the U.S. Constitution. But a closer look shows us that many of the biggest changes in our government had their roots in the individual states. So often we focus on the broad national debates, when it could be that the more local constitutional reforms have the biggest impact on citizens everywhere. From slavery to voting rights and labor laws, State Constitutions set the trends that the federal government followed. Join us in conversation with Prof. Robinson Woodward-Burns as we explore these ideas.

This event is FREE and open to the general public. To register, click here: https://bit.ly/OSH2024HiddenLaws