he Utah Valley University (UVU) Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) is a nonpartisan
academic institute that promotes the instruction, study, and research of constitutionalism.
Through a multidisciplinary approach, CCS examines important constitutional issues found at the intersections of political thought, public policy, religion, law, history, and economics.
Its mandate is to equip a new generation of citizens and leaders with a broad understanding of political thought and economic practices critical to preserving constitutional government, ordered liberty, and the rule of law.
At-a-glance
K–12 students impacted by Utah teachers taking part in CCS trainings
CCS has directly impacted the students, teachers, and citizens of these counties in 2022
1,000
university students taught in American Heritage and other civics-related courses by CCS teaching fellows
K–12 teacher-training hours via CCS events and workshops in 2022
people attended on-campus CCS events in 2022
9 state constitutional conventions
researched and digitized so far as part of the 50-in-10 Project
States researched include Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
34 Utah schools
and 14 Utah school districts received support from the Civic Thought Leadership Institute or other CCS entities
The Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) at Utah Valley University was established in September 2011. Since the inception of CCS, education has been at theore of its every endeavor. What began with a Constitutional Studies minor and community-focused conferences is now a full suite of educational programs.
The Center supports conferences, university curriculum, faculty scholarship, a robust research agenda, strategic partnerships, and K–12 initiatives to engage students, scholars, educators, leaders, and the public on important constitutional issues found at the intersection of political thought, public policy, religion, law, history, education, and economics.
The Center equips citizens with a broad understanding of the political and economic thought and practices critical to preserving constitutional government, ordered liberty, and the rule of law.
At the heart of the CCS mission is the civil, nonpartisan promotion of constitutional literacy. To achieve this mission, CCS is seeking increased funding for several key areas. Support from donors enables the Center to expand its reach and conduct essential research.
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1 |
Bring the Quill Project’s 50-in-10 initiative to completion by 2030 |
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2 |
Name CCS’s new location in honor of former director, Rodney K. Smith |
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3 |
Increase the scope of the Center’s Federalism Index Project |
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Help one UVU student per year to complete an MA at Oxford University in American History |
The Center for Constitutional Studies partners with the Quill Project of Pembroke College at Oxford University to create interactive visual and textual models of constitutional conventions and congressional proceedings. In short, the Quill Project uses cutting-edge technology to make our nation’s founding documents more accessible.
Since 2015, UVU students and faculty members have worked closely with Dr. Nicholas Cole, senior research fellow at Pembroke College, to model the creation of the federal Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, and the constitutions of nine states.
State constitutional conventions represent a rich history of civil debate, deliberation, and compromise. But the constitutional literacy and civil political discourse that made this tradition possible have steadily declined. The 50-in-10 initiative, a momentous endeavor to model the current constitutions of all 50 states by 2030, seeks to reverse this trend by making the deliberations of every state’s constitutional convention available to citizens, students, jurists, and scholars.
Now is an opportune time to pursue this initiative. Recent Supreme Court decisions have elevated the importance of state constitutions as a vital source of rights. Investing in 50-in-10 will capitalize on this development to advance the study of the state-constitutional tradition for decades to come.
Dr. Rodney K. Smith served as CCS director from 2016 to 2020, his tenure cut short after an eightyear battle with cancer. He viewed CCS’s mission to increase constitutional literacy as a personal quest to which he gave his last full measure of devotion. He was dedicated to increasing the constitutional understanding of all citizens to build nonpartisan understanding.
As CCS grows to become a national leader in the effort to increase constitutional understanding, the Center recognizes how integral Dr. Smith was to the growth and progress of its mission.
To honor the memory and contributions of Dr. Smith, CCS is seeking funds to establish the Rodney K. Smith House as the home of the Center for Constitutional Studies. This space will create a dedicated area for students, scholars, and staff to carry on the Center’s critical work. It will also serve as a location for training K–12 teachers from the region and preparing UVU students to enter society with a commitment to constitutional government, ordered liberty, and the rule of law.
Created in 2018 and housed within CCS, the Federalism Index Project is a regional hub for the study and promotion of American federalism. Its aim is to help educators, state leaders, and ordinary citizens better understand and appreciate the significance of American federalism in our constitutional tradition.
As political rhetoric heats up, and as we find ourselves more divided on social issues, all sides can unite around federalism, which can serve as a powerful tool and a much-needed source for compromise in the polarized public square.
Student Testimonial
I would not be where I am today without CCS. Professors Andy Bibby and Rick Griffin
got me interested in constitutional studies through their classes and recommended
I apply to work on the Quill Project, which I did. While working at CCS and on Quill
for three and a half years, I developed important archival research and analytical
skills that allow me to thrive at my current Ph.D. program. Now, I’m building on what
I learned at CCS by researching state constitutions.
Antony C. Jackson ‘21, Political Science
The Center for Constitutional Studies has maintained a valued partnership with Pembroke College, Oxford, for almost a decade. The exchange of ideas, resources, and research between the two universities has been a key component of several projects.
As part of the Center’s partnership with Pembroke College, it seeks to establish an endowed scholarship that will secure admission and full funding for one UVU student each year to complete an MA in American History at Oxford.
This is a crucial time to be engaged in constitutional studies. With your support, UVU’s Center for Constitutional Studies can continue its mission and grow to make an even greater impact. By making a gift, you are enriching the lives of students who will lead constitutional research in our nation and around the world.
