The Heritage Foundation revealed its new guide to the U.S. Constitution on Wednesday — on Constitution Day — featuring Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.
Justice Alito, in the preface, says Heritage’s guide to understanding the Constitution is a “great place to start” for anyone who wants to understand the meaning of the document.
The George W. Bush appointee also credits originalism to three men: the late Judge Robert Bork, former Attorney General Edwin Meese III, and the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
“Since these three men laid the foundations for originalism, other jurists (including my colleague Clarence Thomas) and several generations of scholars have worked to deepen the foundations of originalism and explore the original meaning of our founding document,” Justice Alito wrote.
The 821-page Heritage Guide is the third edition from the conservative think-tank, which released its first one in 2005.
“The Heritage Guide to the Constitution” highlights the framers’ intent through the lens of originalism while looking at modern laws.
In 216 essays, the guide — which comes out with a new and revised edition once a decade — features 150 jurists. It is meant to be a source that gives understanding to “issues from before, during, and after the Constitution’s adoption.”
John Malcolm, vice president of Heritage’s Institute for Constitutional Government and executive editor for the new book, said the guide is significant because it explains the history of the various clauses in the Constitution.
“Three dozen federal judges, 60 law professors, and distinguished attorneys will teach you how to understand and approach every clause of the Constitution. Each essay is rich with history and tells a story — a uniquely American story — about why that particular clause was incorporated into the ’supreme Law of the Land,’” he said.
Josh Blackman, centennial chair of Constitutional Law at the South Texas College of Law Houston and senior editor for the Guide, said the federal judiciary is increasingly grouping its cases based on the Constitution’s original meaning.
“Students, scholars, lawyers, and judges are now expected to understand and apply the text, history, and tradition of the Constitution. The third edition of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution will provide a comprehensive starting point to research these issues from before, during, and after the Constitution’s adoption,” he said.
The third edition of the guide was released on the date when delegates met in 1787 in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.
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