Thompson Center Event
An Imperfect Union: Constitution Building in Comparative Perspective
Wednesday, September 23 | 6 pm | Frances Bedford Concert Hall
Livestream Available
Writing a constitution is rarely straightforward. When the dust settles, the finished document seldom matches what any single group envisioned. By nature, constitutions are messy and imperfect—born from hard-fought compromises, specific historical contexts, and existing power dynamics. No matter how much reverence we bestow upon them, the reality inevitably falls short of our ideals.
At its core, constitution-making is a high-wire balancing act: crafting a text that resolves today’s crises while remaining flexible enough to withstand challenges not yet imagined. How do societies pull this off? What forces push a draft across the finish line, and what causes the process to unravel?
While the impulse to build a foundational framework is universal, the paths nations take vary wildly. The origins and struggles of the U.S. Constitution look quite different from modern constitutional moments globally. Today, amidst deep domestic polarization and calls for reform, looking outward is essential. What can we learn from how other nations design—and redesign—their foundational laws?
Join us as we explore the friction, design, and global history of building an “imperfect union.”
Agenda
5:30 PM Guests arrive and take seats
6:00 PM Moderated Program
7:00 PM Q and A with Audience
7:15 PM Reception with appetizers
8:00 PM Reception ends
Christina Bambrick is the Filip Family Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. She specializes in constitutional theory, with interests in comparative constitutionalism and political theory. Bambrick’s book, Constitutionalizing the Private Sphere: A Comparative Inquiry, was published by Cambridge in 2025. It uses concepts from republican political thought to examine the horizontal application of rights obligations to non-state actors in comparative constitutionalism, specifically in the United States, India, Germany, South Africa, and the European Union. The book was selected as a finalist for both the International Society of Public Law’s Book Prize, and the International Forum on the Future of Constitutionalism’s Book Prize. Bambrick’s other publications include the articles, “Taking Ends Seriously: toward Better Deliberation on Rights” (with Alejandro Castrillon) in Perspectives on Politics, and “Meeting of the Minds: Reshaping Citizens’ Rights and Duties” (with Maureen Stobb) in Journal of Law and Courts. Bambrick received her doctorate in Government from the University of Texas at Austin, and taught at Clemson University before arriving at Notre Dame.
Howard Schweber is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Affiliate Faculty at the Law School, UW-Madison. He is the author or editor of eight books and numerous articles on American constitutional law, legal history, and democratic theory.
Steven D. Schwinn is a professor of law at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Steve teaches and writes in the areas of constitutional law, the separation of powers, and civil rights. He works with a variety of civil-society groups and teacher organizations to promote civics education and democratic deliberation. His writings have appeared in a variety of law journals and popular media. He writes regularly for the ABA Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases and his own blog and website, constitution360.com.