This Constitution
This Constitution is an every-two-weeks podcast ordained and established by the Center for Constitutional Studies at Utah Valley University, the home of Utah’s Civic Thought & Leadership Initiative.
Co-hosted by Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon, This Constitution equips listeners with the knowledge and insights to engage with the most pressing political questions of our time, starting with Season 1, focusing on the powers and limits of the U.S. presidency.
Podcasting since 2024 • 21 episodes
This Constitution
Latest Episodes
Season 2, Episode 5 | Judicial Confirmations—Checks, Balances, or Political Theater?
A Supreme Court justice serves for life, no term limits. No reelection. Almost no way to remove them. So… who decides who gets that kind of power?In this episode, hosts Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon explore the constitutio...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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32:08
Season 2, Episode 4 | The Shot Heard 'Round the World: Understanding Lexington and Concord
Why did the American Revolution begin with armed conflict in 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence? What was the significance of Lexington and Concord, and how did these events set the stage for what would become a bitte...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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30:35
Season 2, Episode 3 | Surviving the Senate: Executive Confirmations
Why does the President need the Senate’s approval to appoint people to the executive branch? Why is it so hard to get those people confirmed? And has the whole process become more about political theater than public service?In this episo...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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28:58
Season 2, Episode 2 | State vs. Federal Power: How Identity Shapes American Democracy
State vs. Federal Power: How Identity Shapes American DemocracyDo you feel more Texan than American? If you had to choose, would you say you’re a Texan first and an American second? What about an Alaskan, a New Yorker, or a Californian? ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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26:48
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Season 2, Episode 1 | Does the Separation of Powers Actually Make the Government More Powerful?
What if the very system designed to keep our leaders in check… is starting to fail?In this episode of This Constitution, hosts Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon kick off Season 2 with a deep dive into the delicate bal...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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31:34
