Synopses & Reviews
The debate over the Affordable Care Act was one of the most important and public examinations of the Constitution in our history. At the forefront of that debate were the legal scholars blogging at the Volokh Conspiracy, who engaged in a spirited, erudite, and accessible discussion of the legal issues involved in the cases - beginning before the law was even passed. Several of the Volokh bloggers played key roles in developing the constitutional arguments against the ACA. Their blog posts and articles about the Act had a significant impact on both the public debate and the legal arguments in the case. It was perhaps the first time that a blog affected arguments submitted to the United States Supreme Court on a major issue. In the process, the bloggers helped legitimize a new type of legal discourse.
This book compiles the discussion that unfolded at the Volokh Conspiracy blog into a readable narrative, enhanced with new context and analysis, as the contributors reflect on the Obamacare litigation with the advantage of hindsight. The different bloggers certainly did not always agree with each other, but the back-and-forth debates provide momentum as the reader follows the development of the arguments over time. A Conspiracy Against Obamacare exemplifies an important new form of legal discourse and public intellectualism.
Review
Review
"The Volokh Conspiracy gave Obamacare much of the constitutional scrutiny it should have but did not receive in Congress. Although the law raises serious constitutional questions, few initially appreciated the significance of these issues. By providing serious, sophisticated analysis, the Volokh Conspiracy raised awareness of the legitimate constitutional challenge to Obamacare and helped advance that challenge."—US Senator Michael S. Lee, Utah
"The constitutional debate over the Affordable Care Act was among the most vibrant in recent Supreme Court history, and there was no more important platform for the debate than the Volokh Conspiracy. By collecting the leading arguments for and against the constitutionality of the ACA, the editors of the Conspiracy - a blog with a provocative name and an ecumenical spirit - have performed an invaluable service."—Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center and Legal Affairs Editor, The New Republic, USA
"In the old days, the legal conversation took place on law reviews, and it wasn't much of a 'conversation,' really. Now it takes place on lawblogs and it's rich and highly interactive. Legal historians of the future will find this book an indispensable source on the legal conversation around Obamacare.— Glenn Reynolds, Beauchamp Brogan Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee, and author of Instapundit.com
"The Constitution had its Federalist Papers, and the challenge to the Affordable Care Act had the Volokh Conspiracy."—Paul D. Clement, Partner, Bancroft PLLC, 43rd Solicitor General of the United States, and counsel to 26 states in the challenge to the Affordable Care Act, from the Foreword
Synopsis
The Affordable Care Act debate was one of the most important and most public examinations of the Constitution in our history. At the forefront of that debate were the bloggers of the Volokh Conspiracy who, from before the law was even passed, engaged in a spirited, erudite, and accessible discussion of the legal issues involved in the case.
About the Author
Randy E. Barnett is the Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Legal Theory, Georgetown University Law Center and Director, Georgetown Center for the Constitution, USA.
Jonathan H. Adler is the Johan Verheij Memorial Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, USA.
David E. Bernstein is the George Mason University Foundation Professor at the George Mason University School of Law, USA.
Orin Kerr is the Fred C. Stevenson Research Professor at the George Washington University Law School, USA.
David B. Kopel is the Research Director at the Independence Institute, USA.
Ilya Somin is a Professor of Law at George Mason University School of Law, USA.
Trevor Burrus is a Research Fellow at the Cato Institute Center for Constitutional Studies, USA.
Table of Contents
1.Introduction by Paul Clement, counsel for states challenging the ACA (to be finalized)
2.Introductory Essay by Editor Trevor Burrus
3.In the Beginning4.The Law is Passed
5.The Cases Begin
6.Decisions, Decisions
7.Moving up the Ladder
8.Game Time
9.Decision Time
10. Conclusion