While the United States Constitution is small in size, it is large enough to support our most dramatic disagreements. Beginning with the clash between slave states and free states, we have staged all of our controversies on the Articles and Amendments. Even during the Civil War, the Constitution held.

James Madison wanted a supreme authority, a federal power that would trump state sovereignty. But that’s not what he got. Instead, we have a government with 51 heads. There is no final decision-maker but a rule book for endless arguments.

Attendees at the October 6th discussion will have a chance to weigh in on the pluses and minuses of a federalist system during a global pandemic. How does concurrent jurisdiction help us balance our personal liberties and our obligations to the public’s health?

This will be a virtual event through the St. Albans Museum in St. Albans City, Vermont. Please register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pd-2tpj8oG9F3yX9x8xktsnl3a8fJ78Vs

A Vermont Humanities Council sponsored event.