Next Event
On June 3rd the Association for the Study of Free Institutions, in conjunction with Princeton University’s James Madison Program, will bestow the 2025 James Q. Wilson Award for Distinguished Scholarship on the Nature of a Free Society to Dr. Keith E. Whittington, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics at Princeton University. The ceremony will take place during The Robert J. Giuffra 82 Conference at the Princeton University Conference Center.
Professor Whittington’s books include Repugnant Laws: Judicial Review of Acts of Congress from the Founding to the Present (Thomas M. Cooley Book Prize) and Speak Freely: Why Universities Must Defend Free Speech (winner of the Heterodox Academy Award for Exceptional Scholarship)), as well as other works on constitutional construction, interpretation, and judicial supremacy.
Professor Whittington serves as the founding chair of the Academic Committee of the Academic Freedom Alliance. He has been American Council of Learned Societies Junior Faculty Fellow, National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement, and hosts The Academic Freedom Podcast
Previous Winners of the James Q. Wilson Award* have been Richard Pipes (2009), Michael P. Zuckert (2010), Harvey Mansfield (2013), Hadley P. Arkes (2011), James W. Ceaser (2012), Harvey C. Mansfield (2013), Alan Charles Kors (2014), John Finnis (2015), Allen C. Guelzo (2016), Leon Kass (2017), Robert P. George (2018), David Novak (2019), Mary Ann Glendon (2020/2021), Gordon Wood (2023).
The Conference will take place in the Stoney Brook Room of the Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center from June 3rd to June 4th. Registration begins at 9:30am.
*James Q. Wilson’s name was added to the Award in 2013.§1161e. American Civics Education Program
From the amounts appropriated under subsection (f), the Secretary is authorized to award three-year grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions to establish or strengthen postsecondary academic programs or centers that promote and impart knowledge of-
(1) American political thought and history;
(2) the history and nature of, and threats to, free institutions;
(3) the history, achievements and the impact of American representative democracy and
constitutional democracies globally; or
(4) means of participation in political and civic life.
In this section:
The term "eligible institution" means an institution of higher education as defined in section 1001 of this title or a partnership of such an institution and one or more nonprofit organizations whose missions and demonstrated expertise are consistent with the purpose of this section.
The term "free institution" means an institution founded on the principles of representative democracy, constitutional government, individual rights, market economics, religious freedom and religious tolerance, and freedom of thought and inquiry.
(3) American political thought and history
The term "American political thought and history" means-
(A) the significant constitutional, political, intellectual, economic, social, and foreign
policy trends and issues that have shaped the course of American history; and
(B) the key episodes, turning points, texts, and figures involved in the constitutional,
political, intellectual, diplomatic, social and economic history of the United States.
Each eligible institution that desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.
Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include a description of-
(A) how funds made available under this section will be used for the activities set forth
under subsection (e), including how such activities will increase knowledge with respect to American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or means of participation in political and civic life;
(B) how the eligible institution will ensure that information about the activities funded
under this section is widely disseminated pursuant to subsection (e)(1)(B) which may include the creation or use of open educational resources;
(C) any activities to be undertaken pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(A), including
identification of entities intended to participate;
(D) how funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement and not
supplant non-Federal funds available for the activities described in subsection (e); and
(E) such fiscal controls and accounting procedures as may be necessary to ensure
proper disbursement of and accounting for funding made available to the eligible institution under this section.
In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall take into consideration the capability of the eligible institution to-
(1) increase access to quality programming that expands knowledge of American political
thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or means of participation in political and civic life;
(2) involve personnel with strong expertise in American political thought and history, free
institutions, the impact of American democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or
means of participation in political and civic life; and
(3) sustain the activities funded under this section after the grant has expired.
Funds provided under this section shall be used to-
(A) establish or strengthen academic programs or centers focused on American political thought
and history, free institutions, impact of American democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or means of participation in political and civic life, which may include-
(i) design and implementation of programs of study, courses, lecture series, seminars, and symposia;
(ii) development, publication, and dissemination of instructional materials;
(iv) support for faculty teaching in undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate programs;
(v) support for graduate and postgraduate fellowships, if applicable; or
(B) teacher preparation initiatives that stress content mastery regarding American political thought
and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and
constitutional democracies globally, or means of participation in political and civic life; and(C)
collaboration with local educational agencies, for the purpose of providing elementary and
secondary school teachers an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of American political
thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American representative democracy and
constitutional democracies globally, or means of participation in political and civic life; and(D)
conduct outreach activities to ensure that information about the activities funded under this
section is widely disseminated-
(i) to undergraduate students (including students enrolled in teacher education programs, if applicable);
(ii) to graduate students (including students enrolled in teacher education programs, if applicable);
(iv) to local educational agencies; and
(v) within the local community.
Funds provided under this section may be used to support-
(A) collaboration with entities such as-
(i) nonprofit organizations whose missions and demonstrated expertise are consistent with the
purpose of this section, for assistance in carrying out activities described under subsection (a);
and
(ii) federal or state humanities programs which may include those funded by the National
Endowment for the Humanities
(B) the creation and use of open educational resources on American political thought and history,
free institutions, the impact of American democracy and constitutional democracies globally, or means of participation in political and civic life.
(C) other activities that meet the purposes of this section.
(f) Authorization of appropriations
For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title VIII, §805, as added Pub. L. 110–315, title VIII, §801, Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3388 .)
To be added by LEG COUNSEL:
(G) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION: prohibition on Secretary of Education from prescribing anything related to curriculum… (however leg counsel drafts it).
3 year grant cycle- Dept of Ed will hold competition once every three years.