Cato’s scholars address a wide range of constitutional and legal issues — from federalism to property rights, civil liberties, criminal law and procedure, qualified immunity, civil asset forfeiture, and the Second Amendment, to name just a few. Cato expects the judiciary to be the “bulwark” of our liberties, as James Madison put it, neither making up nor ignoring the law but interpreting and applying it through the natural rights tradition we inherited from the founding generation.
Constitution and Law
Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Becerra
Supreme Court Doesn’t Need Fixing, Everything Else Does
Our independent judiciary has proven to be one of the most effective parts of our Constitution, and that was put on display over the last two months.
David Boaz participates in the “Why I Love the Constitution” series hosted by the National Constitution Center
Biden’s Firing Spree
The new White House has sought dismissals of Trump holdovers to an unusual degree — though media outrage is muted this time.
State Police Powers and the Constitution
The pandemic is a national problem, but its impact varies by region, state, and even locality and so requires tailored solutions—ones that conform with our nation’s commitment to individual rights and the rule of law.
Featured Podcast Episode
Is the Supreme Court Beginning to Curtail Qualified Immunity?
By Jay Schweikert, Clark Neily, and Caleb O. Brown
The Supreme Court created and has long supported a tortured reading of federal law that helps public officials escape accountability for violating your rights. That may be changing in a small way. Still, Clark Neily and Jay Schweikert argue that qualified immunity will continue to protect malicious public officials until lawmakers step in to fix it.
Featured Publications
Cornerstone of Liberty
Property Rights in 21st Century America
This book shows why the right to ownership is one of the most essential of human rights, how that right is protected in the U.S. Constitution, and how ordinary property owners can help rein in government violations of private property rights.
Cato Pocket Constitution
To encourage people everywhere to better understand and appreciate the principles of government that are set forth in America’s founding documents, the Cato Institute published this pocket edition (3.5” x 5”) of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.