Legal Spirits 069: The Consent of the Governed
About this episode
The episode discusses the evolution of the concept of 'the consent of the governed' and its implications for American law and society.
Source: National Archives In this episode of Legal Spirits , Center Director Mark Movsesian talks with legal scholar Steven D. Smith about a question that goes to the heart of American law and politics: What happens when people stop believing in “the consent of the governed”? Drawing on Smith’s new paper, The Collapse of Consent , they explore how this once-powerful idea has shifted over time—from a principle rooted in natural law and divine authority to a secular fiction that’s becoming harder to sustain. In an increasingly polarized society, can America’s founding narrative still hold us together? A deep and thought-provoking conversation about legitimacy, identity, and the future of our legal order. The post Legal Spirits 069: The Consent of the Governed appeared first on LAW AND RELIGION FORUM .
People in this episode
Host: Mark Movsesian
Guest: Steven D. Smith
Topics covered
- consent of the governed
- American law
- politics
- natural law
- secularism
- polarization
- legitimacy
- identity
- legal order
Keywords
- legal scholarship
- American politics
- founding narrative
Mentioned in this episode
Products: The Collapse of Consent
Books & works: Legal Spirits 069, Legal Spirits, The Collapse of Consent
Places: America
More episodes of Legal Spirits
- Legal Spirits 077: Dignity in Judgment
- Legal Spirits 076: A Short Take on Chiles v. Salazar
- Legal Spirits 075: A Short Take on the Louisiana 10 Commandments Case
- Legal Spirits 074: Religion and the State in Japan
- Legal Spirits 073: A Short Take on the Minnesota Church Protest
- Legal Spirits 072: Religion at the “Constitutional Court of Europe”
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Legal Spirits podcast page.