What Is a Constitutional Crisis? Would You Know it if We Were in One?

Is the United States experiencing a constitutional crisis--or multiple crises? How would we even know if we were? One way to understand our current political culture is to examine what the country did in past times of crisis. For instance, what did we learn from South Carolina attempting to nullify a federal tax? Why was it once controversial for the vice president to become president when that office became vacant? How was it that a panel selected by Congress once chose the president?

In this documentary short, “What Is a Constitutional Crisis? Would You Know it if We Were in One?,” Professor Robert L. Tsai of American University College of Law, Professor Kevin R. C. Gutzman of Western Connecticut State University, and Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center discuss three constitutional crises and their lessons for modern America.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Professor Robert L. Tsai: http://roberttsai.com/bio/
Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertltsai
  / robertltsai  

Learn more about Professor Kevin R. C. Gutzman: http://www.kevingutzman.com/
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinGutzman
  / kevingutzman  

Learn more about Mike Maharrey: https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/mich...
Follow Mike on Twitter: @mmaharrey10th
  / mmaharrey10th  

Credits:

Directed & Written by: Tim Hedberg
Co-Written by: Noah Bradon
Produced by: Tim Hedberg & Noah Bradon
Executive Producers: Daniel T. Richards & Matt Wood
Director of Photography: Matt Wood
Edited by: Jack Lykins
Line Producer: Ben Wade
Animations by: Jack Lykins
A FedSoc Films and & Motivo production
FedSoc.org
MotivoMedia.co

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Related Links & Differing Views:

Wikipedia: “Constitutional Crisis”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constit...

FiveThirtyEight: “The 4 Types Of Constitutional Crises”
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/...

Fox News: “Trump blasts Dems' declaration of constitutional crisis as 'pathetically untrue'” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trum...

NYT: “This Is a Constitutional Crisis. What Happens Next?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/op...

National Review: “Constitutional Crisis As Absurdist Theater” https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/0...

Slate: “Are We in a Constitutional Crisis?” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2...

Reason: “The Real Constitutional Crisis Is Congress' Unwillingness to Do Its Job: Podcast”
https://reason.com/podcast/the-real-c...