We tend to assume that the language of our Constitution is clear, but the current trend of controversial Supreme Court decisions reveals the complexity, tension, and ambiguity lurking beneath the seemingly placid surface of Constitutional text.  In this presentation Dr. Eric Boyer, Professor of Political Science at Colby-Sawyer College, will present four different methods of interpreting the language of the United States Constitution.  Through a focus on the evolution of the right to privacy Professor Boyer will reveal how different interpretive frameworks can lead to radically divergent views on issues like contraception, abortion, and marriage equality.

About the Speaker:

Eric Boyer is a professor at Colby Sawyer College, since 2008. He earned a Ph.D from the University of Minnesota. He formerly served as a lecturer at the University of Minnesota and as an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Saint Thomas University. Eric's areas of expertise include American studies, government, history, and philosophy.