Celebrating the U.S. Constitution
It stands for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Join the OU community in honoring the document that makes this country great on Constitution Day, Sept. 18. Expert Justin J. Wert, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, shares his views on "Our Constitution."
As we celebrate our second Constitution Day at the University of Oklahoma, we as a country are saddled in debate concerning some of the most fundamental aspects of American constitutionalism: the extent of presidential authority to prosecute war, including the executive’s ability to conduct warrantless wiretaps, detain and classify individuals as enemy combatants and render or send suspected terrorists to other countries to elicit critical information. Congress is also poised to give its stamp of approval to most, if not all, of these actions as a result of the Supreme Court’s rulings during the 2004 term. Whether or not we as citizens (and legitimate Constitutional interpreters) agree with these decisions, at the very least we should take some comfort in the fact that, since September 11, 2001, ALL three branches are getting their hands dirty.
But as we are bombarded with the extraordinary politics of constitutionalism during war and crisis, I would assert that we have the unique opportunity today to step back and ponder a seemingly quaint, but extremely important, proposition: Just what is this “Constitution” that the “court” is interpreting? And is it really “ours”?
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Activities on the Norman campus to celebrate the U.S. Constitution...
Link to the official U.S. Constitution Day Web site...
Read the U.S. Constitution...
Join Colin Powell and those across the United States in the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution at 1 p.m. at Crossroads Restaurant, Oklahoma Memorial Union.
2006 BioBlitz set for Friday, Sept.15 and Saturday, Sept. 16
Nature enthusiasts soon will get the opportunity to race around Quartz Mountain Nature Park and the Altus-Lugert State Wildlife Management Area over a 24-hour period, identifying as many living creatures as possible from the local habitats.
Visit their Web site...
Special Events:
September 28
A&S is coming to Dallas! Please join Dean Paul B. Bell, Jr. and other alumni and friends at the Park City Club in Dallas at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 28. The featured speaker will be Brian Britt, director of the Pride of Oklahoma Band. To register to attend, click here.
September 29
A&S Scholarship Recognition Luncheon, noon, Kerr McGee Stadium Club, The Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Sponsored by GEICO.
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