Sovereignty or Submission: Will Americans Rule Themselves Or Be Ruled By Others?

The Federalist Society at Temple Beasley School of Law Debate Series

Sovereignty or Submission:

Will Americans Rule Themselves

Or Be Ruled By Others?

Featuring John Fonte of the Hudson Institute &

Professor Peter Spiro, Temple Beasley School of Law

Thursday 11/17 · K1D · 12:00

FREE JIMMY JOHNS

The International Criminal Court claims authority over Americans for actions that the United States does not define as “crimes.” In short, the Twenty-First Century is witnessing an epic struggle between the forces of global governance and American constitutional democracy. Transnational progressives and transnational pragmatists in the UN, EU, post-modern states of Europe, NGOs, corporations, prominent foundations, and most importantly, in America’s leading elites, seek to establish “global governance.” Further, they understand that in order to achieve global governance, American sovereignty must be subordinated to the “global rule of law.” The question remains, should the U.S. Constitution incorporate these 

“evolving norms of international law.”

John Fonte is a Senior Fellow & Director of the Center for American Common Culture at Hudson Institute. The Center provides analysis & policy advice on civic education, citizenship, & issues concerning the interplay of national identity, the assimilation of immigrants, global organizations, & the future of American liberal democracy. Fonte's articles have been published in the National Review, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, San Diego Union-Tribune & he has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, BBC, &  National Public Radio.  Fonte also served as a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; & as a senior member of the U.S. Department of Education & the National Endowment for the Humanities & frequently testifies before Congress on immigration, assimilation, citizenship, citizenship naturalization & on civil rights issues.

Peter J. Spiro joined the Temple Law School faculty in 2006. A former law clerk to Justice David H. Souter of the U.S. Supreme Court, Spiro specializes in international law, the constitutional aspects of U.S. foreign relations, and immigration and nationality law. He has contributed commentary to such publications as Foreign Affairs, the Wall Street Journal, and the New Republic. He also writes for the leading international law blog, Opinio Juris.

He has also served as director for democracy on the staff of the National Security Council, as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Department of State's Office of the Legal Adviser and as a resident associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Spiro holds a B.A. from Harvard College and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.