We the Terps: A Day with the U.S. Constitution

Written by: Miller Rogers-Tetrick 🇨🇴

Attendees to a discussion about modern applications of the U.S. Constitution (Miller Rogers-Tetrick).

Since 1993, the University of Maryland has given a First Year Book to its students as a way to invoke active conversation within its student body.

This year's First Year Book is the U.S. Constitution, as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, alongside the rapid changes in the District of Columbia.

“By selecting the Constitution as our First Year Book, we hope everyone on campus can be informed about their rights and responsibilities,” said William Cohen, Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies. 

With this text being given to the student body, Professor Michael Ross calls for its readers to be the voters the Founding Fathers were counting on. 

“It made it this far thanks to the voters who paid attention, asked questions, and held the reader accountable,” said Ross.

In celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, We the Terps hosted a series of panel conversations discussing specific sections of the U.S. Constitution and exploring the origins of the Bill of Rights. 

The event also featured panels about the current state of the 14th Amendment and presentations on how modern life is involved with the U.S. Constitution. 

In his presentations, Ross delved deep into the body of the Constitution, with an analysis of the powers given to the three branches of government, like the commerce clause and the powers for economic stability for the United States.

In a discussion of the 14th Amendment, Ross acknowledges its wording, noting that the Supreme Court has previously ruled on the amendment's citizenship provisions. Ross is keeping an eye on it, as the highest court on the land could determine its future.

Senior Lecturer Michael Spivey spoke on the strains that rule by executive order has on the 14th Amendment and immigration.

With the executive order under the name Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship, which bans birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. Spivey calls it “a fairly radical revisiting of the way we think about birthright citizenship.”

Other panelists included Robert Koulist, Director of MLaw Programs and Program Director of the College Park Scholars’ Justice and Legal Thought Program, and Professor Patrick Wohlfarth, who discussed issues related to gerrymandering and state and federal court cases. 

As the Terps and UMD continue to hand out the First Year Book, they invite you to consider: Why does the Constitution matter to you?