Constitution

What did the Founders mean when they wrote "the pursuit of happiness"? What can their intent tell us about improving American well-being today?

Leaders from across the country—spanning academia, politics, faith communities, and civic life— recently gathered in Chicago for an evening dedicated to advancing religious pluralism. The highlight of the night featured an inspiring panel discussion with thought leaders Andy Hanauer from One America Movement, Elder Matthew S. Holland from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rebecca Russo from Interfaith America, and John Wood Jr. from the Omni American Society. The panel members explored the difference between tolerance and pluralism, discussed the roles of both believers and nonbelievers in protecting religious diversity, and gave practical suggestions for lawmakers and community members trying to encourage bridge-building in a divided America.

Wheatley Fellow Thomas Griffith, former judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, writes on the constitutional responsibilities of the judiciary and the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Trump v. Barbara.

As America celebrates its 250 year-old legacy, Wheatley Fellow Shima Baughman makes a case for the future: "whether liberty endures will depend on whether we remain a people capable of mercy".

Does the Fourth of July belong to all of us? "Fredrick Douglass today would emphatically answer: Yes, it [does]," Wheatley Fellow Bradley Reberio states. "The better question to ask, then, is whether we are living up to what the Declaration demands of us today."

Can the US Constitution heal a fractured country?


Wheatley Fellows Justin Collings and Thomas Griffith examine the question in their new op-ed, "A republic of neighbors: How moral agency and community can heal our divided nation".

Director Paul Edwards Authors Op-Ed in Deseret News