originalist
Founding intent advocate
An originalist interprets a legal document—especially the U.S.
Constitution—according to its meaning at the time it was written, rather than adapting it to contemporary values.
The term appears most often in debates about constitutional interpretation: an originalist reading of the Second Amendment.
Originalism as a judicial philosophy gained prominence in the late twentieth century, often associated with conservative jurisprudence.
- ThomasMasculine name meaning twin
- intentPlanned purpose
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- precedentPrior authoritative example
Gorsuch · doctrine · judicial review · dissent · opinion · statutory · textualism · judicial philosophy
Interpreting law literally
- literal interpretationTaking words at face value
- plain meaningDirect, straightforward interpretation
- letter of the lawExact statutory language
- semantic analysisStudy of linguistic meaning
Those who construct frames
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- amendmentChange to official text
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
document · federalist · antifederalist · bill of rights · preamble · articles · enumerated powers · constitutional convention
Inherited cultural legacy
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- founding principlesInitial guiding beliefs
- establishedFormally set up
time-honored · legacy · conservative · restoration · fidelity · unchanging · backward-looking · ancestral
Scalia
- ThomasMasculine name meaning twin
- intentPlanned purpose
- interpretationAssigned meaning
Gorsuch · precedent · doctrine · judicial review · dissent · opinion · statutory · textualism · judicial philosophy · bench
textualism
Interpreting law literally
- literal interpretationTaking words at face value
- plain meaningDirect, straightforward interpretation
- letter of the lawExact statutory language
semantic analysis · dictionary definitions · construction zone · liquidation
framers
Those who construct frames
- founding fathersMale originators of institutions
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- amendmentChange to official text
ratification · document · federalist · antifederalist · bill of rights · preamble · articles · enumerated powers · constitutional convention · judicial restraint
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- founding principlesInitial guiding beliefs
established · time-honored · legacy · conservative · restoration · fidelity · unchanging · backward-looking · ancestral · venerable
- Judicial Appointmentsjudicial nominee, nomination, nominee, confirmation hearing, confirmation vote
originalistevolutionist
Proponent of species transformation
activist judge · pragmatist · instrumentalist · consequentialist · presentist
originalistprogressive
Favoring reform and innovation
modernist · evolutionist · revisionist · reformist · presentist