Our Experts in the News

May 06, 2026

Justice Kavanaugh participates in an event cosponsored by Notre Dame’s Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government and the Catholic University of America’s Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Carroll Forum for Citizenship and Public Life at CUA in D.C.

May 01, 2026

Justice Clarence Thomas' recent lecture commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence continues to attract attention and comment. While some on the left found the speech objectionable or offensive, many on the right have found it to be inspiring and worth engaging.

Civitas Outlook has published a symposium of responses to Justice Thomas' lecture with many worthwhile contributions, including Professor Phillip Muñoz.

April 11, 2026

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a virtual address to an April 9th symposium in Washington, D.C. co-sponsored by Notre Dame's Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government and Catholic University of America's Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. In his remarks, Secretary Rubio argued that Catholicism is not a late addition or outlier in the American story, but one of its deepest civilizational roots – and one that will remain essential as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

April 09, 2026

A conference April 9 at Catholic University explored the connections between Catholic intellectual thought and the Declaration of Independence as part of CUA’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of America’s founding document.

The conference was cosponsored by The Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government at the University of Notre Dame, CUA’s Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and CUA’s Carroll Forum for Citizenship and Public Life and was hosted by the Columbus School of Law.

March 25, 2026

The Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government (CCCG) hosted its second installation of the True Lectures from March 18–20. This year’s series featured Jud Campbell, Professor of Law and Helen L. Crocker Faculty Scholar at Stanford Law School. Campbell’s lectures dove into the history and legacy of natural rights in the U.S., from the founding to today.

March 20, 2026

Richard Garnett, Paul J. Schierl Professor of Law and director of the Program on Church, State & Society at Notre Dame Law School, writes on why despite problematic widespread anti-Catholic sentiment, we should have faith in the American experiment.

February 25, 2026

Dr. Carl Trueman is the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government’s (CCCG) 2026 visiting fellow. His recent work includes The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, and he will soon release a new book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades our Humanity. On March 19, Trueman gave a lecture to introduce this upcoming work, titled, “All That Is Sacred Must Be Profaned,” a reference to Marx’s Communist Manifesto.

February 25, 2026

CCCG Visiting Fellow Carl Trueman reflects on the theological roots of modern identity in a recent lecture. Discussing his upcoming book, The Desecration of Man, Dr. Trueman explores how the rejection of the sacred leads to a "desecration" of human dignity and anthropology. He argues that the recovery of virtue ethics and the practices of the Church are essential to reclaiming a proper understanding of what it means to be human in a technological age.

February 11, 2026

To celebrate the United States’ semiquincentennial and the two documents that led to both her unique equality and prosperity—the Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations—, Tocqueville Professor of Political Science Vincent Philip Muñoz and John T. Ryan Jr. Professor of Business Ethics James Otteson joined together to lead a course on their contents.

January 29, 2026

In a lecture for the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government’s (CCCG) signature course, "1776: The Ideas That Made the Modern World," Notre Dame alumnus Professor Brad Birzer explored the classical and Anglo-Saxon roots of American liberty. Hosted by CCCG Director Professor Phillip Muñoz, the event highlighted the center’s commitment to examining the foundational principles of the American project through its popular one-credit course offerings.

November 19, 2025

This article, an Alumni Spotlight, features Mary Frances Devlin, a former Editor-in-Chief of The Irish Rover (G’16, G’20), who now works as a Government Affairs Associate and Contributing Editor. Devlin recounts how a shift in her academic schedule, following the cancellation of a study abroad program, led her to immerse herself in Constitutional Studies. These courses proved highly formative and energizing, specifically mentioning Professor Phillip Muñoz’s course in constitutional law and a class on liberalism and conservatism taught by Professor Patrick Deneen. The article concludes with Devlin emphasizing the role of The Irish Rover in providing the necessary practical writing experience and network for her to pursue a career centered on writing and advocacy.

November 19, 2025

University of Notre Dame faculty members Margot Fassler, Sherif Girgis, Brad Gregory and Prashant Kamat have been inducted into the American Academy of Sciences and Letters in recognition of their outstanding scholarly achievement.

November 10, 2025

The Supreme Court recently heard the case of Damon Landor, a Rastafarian man seeking to sue Louisiana prison officials for monetary damages after they forcibly cut his religious dreadlocks in violation of his rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). This significant legal challenge focuses on whether RLUIPA allows for such individual liability against state employees, a question that constitutional law expert Rick Garnett would typically analyze within the ongoing national debate regarding the extent of religious liberty protections for institutionalized persons.

October 27, 2025

In their review of the University of Notre Dame, the ACTA does identify one area of excellence: the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government, which offers fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and visiting scholars to study leadership and citizenship.

October 06, 2025

Princeton University professor Stephen Macedo speaks on how public trust changed for social institutions after the pandemic at an event hosted by the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government. 

October 01, 2025

The article features two professors, Margaret Freddoso and Gabrielle Girgis, both former Visiting Scholars with the Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government (CCCG), who offer insight into balancing academic work with motherhood. Freddoso described motherhood as having deepened her sense of purpose and joy while requiring professional trade-offs, and Girgis suggested women should aim for "integration" rather than "balance" by clarifying their vocation's priorities (marriage, motherhood, professional work) to navigate their dual roles.

September 19, 2025

Richard Garnett speaks on legal education, the role of the courts in our constitutional structure, and the law of religious freedom and free expression.

September 17, 2025

Notre Dame’s Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government (CCCG) hosted Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on September 12 for a moderated conversation facilitated by CCCG Director Vincent Phillip Muñoz. The discussion and following Q&A centered on themes from Barrett’s upcoming book, Listening to the Law.