Constitution Day 2026: A Revolutionary View of Constitutional Supremacy

Event Times

07:00 PM - 08:00 PM

Location Details

Old South Meeting House 310 Washington Street Boston, MA 02108

Cost

This is a free event.

Event Description

Revolutionary Spaces is proud to launch our 2026–2027 program series, Constitution, After the Declaration: The Origins, Evolution, and Impact of the U.S. Constitution, with a special Constitution Day program exploring the revolutionary nature of our nation’s founding document. Our first program, Constitution Day 2026: A Revolutionary View of Constitutional Supremacy(opens in new tab), will take place on September 17 at the Old South Meeting House. Professors Nikolas Bowie and Daphna Renan will join Boston Globe reporter Brian MacQuarrie for a conversation examining the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution and its authority to determine the constitutionality of laws enacted by Congress.

The principle of self-government was at the heart of the conflict between Colonial America and Great Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries. When the United States Constitution established the framework for our federal government in 1789, the power of the people to govern themselves was vested in Congress. Notably, however, the Constitution does not explicitly grant the judicial branch the authority to determine the constitutionality of laws enacted by the people’s elected representatives. Over time, the U.S. Supreme Court has asserted the power of “judicial supremacy,” allowing the Court to override congressional legislation. The tension between this authority and the power of Congress to carry out the will of the people is at the center of Supremacy: How Rule by the Court Replaced Government by the People(opens in new tab), the new book by Bowie and Renan.

The discussion will also explore a “lost” constitutional tradition shaped by abolitionists, labor leaders, suffragists, civil rights pioneers, and ordinary citizens throughout more than 200 years of American history. These individuals sought to shape national policy and civic life through Congress’s power to make laws that reflect the will of the people.

This program is free and open to the public thanks to the generous support of the Lowell Institute(opens in new tab). Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the program begins at 7:00 PM. Priority registration access will be given to Revolutionary Spaces members(opens in new tab).