On Tuesday, April 5, 2020, Bard College professor of political studies and American studies Dr. Simon Gilhooley presented a lecture on the subject of The Constitution and January 6^th. This complex talk was recorded, captioned, and edited and is now being offered for further viewing through July 16. Click here to view the lecture on YouTube.

The lecture was comprised of four sections, plus by Q & A.:

- exploring the relationship between the U.S. Constitution and the events of January 6^th, 2021 through a consideration of the relationship between text and spirit.

- examining the role of the Twelfth Amendment in the events of the day, exploring the congressional history of the amendment's creation and the views of the vice presidency that emerged therein.

- applying the interpretation of Donald Trump's words and pronouncements within the framework of a broader spirit of challenging/undermining confidence in the outcome of the democratic processes of the presidential election.

- reflecting on what these events might indicate for the 2022 congressional and 2024 presidential elections.

Simon Gilhooley is a scholar whose research interests cover the History of political thought; American political thought; Constitutional theory; American political development; public media and democratic politics; philosophy and practice in the Early Republic. His research builds upon insights from American politics and political theory in order to address issues of constitutionality and authority within the American polity.

Dr. Simon Gilhooley holds M.A. degrees from Edinburgh University and the University of London, and a Ph.D. from Cornell University.

This presentation was a collaboration of SUNY Orange’s Cultural Affairs and Global Studies Dept. Questions may be directed to cultural@sunyorange.edu

Photo of Dr. Simon Gilhooley by John Verner.