Grasping Reality on TypePad, by Brad DeLong

James Madison says: My original intent and the original understanding at the time of ratification do not properly control the meaning of the Constitution:

James Madison: Letters and Other Writings:

Indeed, the phrase "[the] acquiescence or the people at lare, and without a glimpse of chante in the public opinion..." strongly suggests a theory of the Constitution in which it is there to guide us as to what the current will of the dozing sovereign is...