UToledo Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership

YOU'RE INVITED: FREE LUNCH & LECTURE SERIES

Is Communism Compatible With Constitutionalism?

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 12 PM
Room 1013 | UT College of Law
Lunch Provided | Free Parking

If 1776 articulated the principles of natural rights and government by consent, 2026 calls us to consider whether those principles still command our understanding and stewardship.

Drawing on extensive scholarship in American political thought, Prof. Elizabeth Spalding invites us to examine what distinguishes systems grounded in natural rights from those shaped by centralized power. Join us in a consequential consideration vital for a flourishing republic.

Institute Logo

Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership

The Institute of American Constitutional Thought & Leadership restores the intellectual and civic conditions essential for a flourishing republic, forming students and citizens in the principles of liberty through lectures, civil dialogue, and academic programs that equip leaders and engage the broader community in the work of self-government.

VISIT "THE DELIBERATE REPUBLIC" LEADTOLEDO.COM

Visit The Deliberate Republic

LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED

GO: The Deliberate Republic
Your hub for thoughtful conversations, event videos, and essays that form citizens rather than spectators.

GO: Leadership / Scholarship Opportunities
Apply for fellowships, leadership roles, and scholarships worth up to several thousand dollars each year while developing the judgment and skills essential for responsible citizenship.

GO: Captivating Courses
Explore courses that challenge how you think about justice, leadership, and the constitutional foundations of a free society.

GO: Colloquia
Join lively, faculty-led discussions where students engage big ideas, ask honest questions, and practice the habits of thoughtful civic leadership.

GO: Oxford Study Abroad
Spend a transformative term studying political philosophy at Oxford and engaging with ideas where they first shaped the modern world.

A Question for Our Times: "Is Liberty Still Relevant?”

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership (IACTL) convened a panel of four eminent scholars to ask a foundational, and increasingly debated, question: Is the Declaration of Independence still the “standard of a free society,” or has it become a “mere wreck” of the dead past? [08:11].

View past programs

UToledo Institute of Constitutional Thought and Leadership