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American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again
A top conservative scholar reveals the Constitution’s remarkable power to repair our broken civic culture, rescue our malfunctioning politics, and unify a fractious America Common ground is hard to find in today’s politics. In a society teeming with irreconcilable political perspectives, many people have grown frustrated under a system of government that constantly demands compromise. More and more on both the right and the left have come to blame the Constitution for the resulting discord. But the Constitution is not the problem we face; it is the solution. Blending engaging history with lucid analysis, conservative scholar Yuval Levin’s American Covenant recovers the Constitution’s true genius and reveals how it charts a path to repairing America’s fault lines. Uncovering the framers’ sophisticated grasp of political division, Levin showcases the Constitution’s exceptional power to facilitate constructive disagreement, negotiate resolutions to disputes, and forge unity in a fractured society. Clear-eyed about the ways that contemporary politics have malfunctioned, Levin also offers practical solutions for reforming those aspects of the constitutional order that have gone awry. Hopeful, insightful, and rooted in the best of our political tradition, American Covenant celebrates the Constitution’s remarkable power to bind together a diverse society, reassuring us that a less divided future is within our grasp.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2024
About the author
Yuval Levin
26 books125 followersAmerican political analyst, public intellectual, academic and journalist. His areas of specialty include health care, entitlement reform, economic and domestic policy, science and technology policy, political philosophy, and bioethics.
He is the founding editor of National Affairs, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a contributing editor of National Review and a senior editor of The New Atlantis.
Levin was vice president and Hertog Fellow of Ethics and Public Policy Center, executive director of the President's Council on Bioethics, Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy under President George W. Bush and contributing editor to The Weekly Standard. Prior to that he served as a congressional staffer at the member, committee, and leadership levels.
He holds a BA from American University and a PhD from the University of Chicago.
He is the founding editor of National Affairs, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a contributing editor of National Review and a senior editor of The New Atlantis.
Levin was vice president and Hertog Fellow of Ethics and Public Policy Center, executive director of the President's Council on Bioethics, Special Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy under President George W. Bush and contributing editor to The Weekly Standard. Prior to that he served as a congressional staffer at the member, committee, and leadership levels.
He holds a BA from American University and a PhD from the University of Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 12, 2024
Another masterful book by Yuval Levin. The book lays out why a return to a Madisonian conception of politics, and the constitution, is necessary in our divisive and seemingly stalemated era. Levin clearly lays out how the founders wrestled with the idea of a republic in a large and growing nation and the constitution was structured to channel disagreement and revolve issue through the creation of large stable majorities in the legislative branch. He explains how a Progressive or Wilsonian perspective began to use impatience with the American system to warp and change politics. He does so not as an angry pugilist but as a calm analyst and thinker. He understands the problems and issues that underly the progressive perspective but ask the reader to better understand the unintended consequences of this change and how it has led in so many ways to our current problems. He calls for a return to constitutionalism rightly understood and a patient but firm move toward reform and repair.
It very much builds on his previous books in understanding the weakening of institutions and the differing approaches or understandings of American history and government. He is clearly a conservative but writes with empathy and understanding of those who differ from him. And he highlights the cultural and anthropological underpinnings of the American system and constitution. For Yuval reform must start with understanding and appreciating the constitution and working at shoring up our institutions as they were mean to be and the roles they were meant to play. That will in turn shape our culture in positive ways which will in turn strengthen our institutions.
This is no "light" or easy reading but anyone who care about American governance and political life would do well to read this book. No matter your political of philosophical leanings, these are ideas that should be wrestled with and a history we should reacquaint ourselves with as we seek to build a better America.
It very much builds on his previous books in understanding the weakening of institutions and the differing approaches or understandings of American history and government. He is clearly a conservative but writes with empathy and understanding of those who differ from him. And he highlights the cultural and anthropological underpinnings of the American system and constitution. For Yuval reform must start with understanding and appreciating the constitution and working at shoring up our institutions as they were mean to be and the roles they were meant to play. That will in turn shape our culture in positive ways which will in turn strengthen our institutions.
This is no "light" or easy reading but anyone who care about American governance and political life would do well to read this book. No matter your political of philosophical leanings, these are ideas that should be wrestled with and a history we should reacquaint ourselves with as we seek to build a better America.
April 24, 2024
Yuval Levin’s latest page-turner, *American Covenant*, is like finding a well-thumbed rulebook in your attic that explains exactly how to repair the leaky plumbing of American politics. With a spritz of historical zest and a twist of scholarly insight, Levin serves up a compelling case that will have even the most cynical barfly at the political saloon pausing mid-sip.
In today’s America, where finding common ground is as rare as a bipartisan budget bill, Levin argues convincingly that the dusty, old Constitution is not just relevant, but our savior waiting in the wings. Through engaging historical narratives intertwined with lucid analysis, Levin portrays the Constitution not as the curmudgeon responsible for our civic headaches but as the wise old therapist capable of reconciling even the most bitter of political enemies.
What makes *American Covenant* stand out is not just its optimistic lens, but how Levin marries this with practical solutions that don’t just bemoan the present but seek to reengineer it. He digs into the framers’ intentions like an archaeologist, uncovering artifacts of wisdom that seem designed just for our current crises.
However, while Levin’s book might make constitutional scholars and history buffs swoon, the everyday reader might find themselves needing a couple of shots of espresso to power through some of the denser thickets of analysis. At times, the book reads like a love letter to a bygone era, which might leave some of the more progressive patrons at the table checking their watches.
Despite this, *American Covenant* is an enlightening read that throws the gauntlet down in front of our fractured political landscape. Levin doesn’t just ask us to look back with reverence but to look forward with a blueprint in hand—a blueprint drafted in the 18th century, yet surprisingly suited for the 21st.
So, if you’re ready to swap cynicism for a dose of constitutional optimism, Levin’s book might just be the next best addition to your bookshelf. After all, in an age of division, perhaps what we need most is a reminder of how to unite—not just in spite of our differences, but because of them. Cheers to that!
In today’s America, where finding common ground is as rare as a bipartisan budget bill, Levin argues convincingly that the dusty, old Constitution is not just relevant, but our savior waiting in the wings. Through engaging historical narratives intertwined with lucid analysis, Levin portrays the Constitution not as the curmudgeon responsible for our civic headaches but as the wise old therapist capable of reconciling even the most bitter of political enemies.
What makes *American Covenant* stand out is not just its optimistic lens, but how Levin marries this with practical solutions that don’t just bemoan the present but seek to reengineer it. He digs into the framers’ intentions like an archaeologist, uncovering artifacts of wisdom that seem designed just for our current crises.
However, while Levin’s book might make constitutional scholars and history buffs swoon, the everyday reader might find themselves needing a couple of shots of espresso to power through some of the denser thickets of analysis. At times, the book reads like a love letter to a bygone era, which might leave some of the more progressive patrons at the table checking their watches.
Despite this, *American Covenant* is an enlightening read that throws the gauntlet down in front of our fractured political landscape. Levin doesn’t just ask us to look back with reverence but to look forward with a blueprint in hand—a blueprint drafted in the 18th century, yet surprisingly suited for the 21st.
So, if you’re ready to swap cynicism for a dose of constitutional optimism, Levin’s book might just be the next best addition to your bookshelf. After all, in an age of division, perhaps what we need most is a reminder of how to unite—not just in spite of our differences, but because of them. Cheers to that!
June 30, 2024
Yual Levin is one of the most productive relatively young conservative scholars at this time. This book tries (and achieves) to do three things. First, Levin offers an explanation of the underlying assumptions of our Constitutional system. Second, he does a good exposition of the counter ideas first offered by Woodrow Wilson in Congressional Government and reproposed with almost all progressive successors to the Federalist vision. Interestingly he quotes a speech given by Calvin Coolidge which I think was one of silent Cal's career of politics. On the 150th anniversary of the Declaration in 1926 Coolidge took on the progressives by saying ""If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people." In my undergraduate program I was first introduced to Herbert Croly and Sal Padover (who wrote a book called the Living Constitution - which I reacted to negatively at the time). Both argued in different ways that the system established by the Founders was overtaken by modern trends. But as Coolidge suggested the system contained timeless principles.
The suggestions Levin offers are designed to take back the progressive innovations which have effectively divided us. He suggests that we should add perhaps 150 members to the House which would bring us back to the level achieved in the 1920 Census; he also argues that the Budget Control and Accounting Act has been a colossal failure (and the data from the uncontrolled budget and inability to set priorities) so we should abolish the budget committee and to eliminate the distinctions between authorization and appropriations. Finally to reduce the centralizing organizing provisions of things like the Bolling Act - House committees should be guaranteed a portion of the agenda in each Congress. He also makes substantive suggestions about the Executive and the Courts which would get us back to the assumption of the Founders to encourage citizens to talk to each other instead of talking about each other. One other interesting suggestion is to require ranked choice voting elections but only for the primary - that would force candidates to run to the center - if the idea is successful it would not be necessary in the general election.
The explanations in the book are quite good and the analysis of how to improve
The third purpose of the book is to offer some modest ideas to bring us back to the Republican form we adopted in 1787. We is the first word in the Constitution is we.
The suggestions Levin offers are designed to take back the progressive innovations which have effectively divided us. He suggests that we should add perhaps 150 members to the House which would bring us back to the level achieved in the 1920 Census; he also argues that the Budget Control and Accounting Act has been a colossal failure (and the data from the uncontrolled budget and inability to set priorities) so we should abolish the budget committee and to eliminate the distinctions between authorization and appropriations. Finally to reduce the centralizing organizing provisions of things like the Bolling Act - House committees should be guaranteed a portion of the agenda in each Congress. He also makes substantive suggestions about the Executive and the Courts which would get us back to the assumption of the Founders to encourage citizens to talk to each other instead of talking about each other. One other interesting suggestion is to require ranked choice voting elections but only for the primary - that would force candidates to run to the center - if the idea is successful it would not be necessary in the general election.
The explanations in the book are quite good and the analysis of how to improve
The third purpose of the book is to offer some modest ideas to bring us back to the Republican form we adopted in 1787. We is the first word in the Constitution is we.
June 11, 2024
Dense Yet Optimistic Treatise Calls For Revival Of Long-Lost Ideals. In American political discourse, the tide turned significantly towards a more Jeffersonian approach based on liberal ideals such that most all American political discourse for quite some time now is mostly based on rights - who has them, who needs them, whose should have them, who should defend them, etc.
Here, Levin argues that this focus on Jeffersonian thoughts has led us to the current divisive era, one that threatens to tear the American nation apart.
Levin, instead, has a suggestion: the revival of Madisonian thoughts regarding *republican* ideals- somewhat (but not completely) analogous to some modern foci on pluralism, but with the added focus of making pluralism work within a functioning government. After all, it was this very tension between these two competing camps that originally allowed the nation to come together under "e pluribus unum"... and Levin has some thoughts on how that can work again.
Levin does a detailed look at the ideas, how we got to where we are, how each plays out in each realm of American polity, and how a renewed focus on republicanism could heal our divided land. It is a dense look mostly written for scholars and deep thinkers, but for those that can hang with density akin to some substance just shy of lead... this promises to be quite illuminating indeed. And it is one that more Americans *should* read than likely actually *will*.
The single star deduction here is simply due to the shorter than expected bibliography, clocking in at about 13% of the Advance Review Copy of the text I was able to read, where even in a relaxed posture on that point I would still expect around 15%. Splitting hairs at that point, perhaps, but I've had these standards since I began reviewing books several years ago, and it wouldn't be fair to either this book or all the others to not hold to the same-ish standard.
Very much recommended.
Here, Levin argues that this focus on Jeffersonian thoughts has led us to the current divisive era, one that threatens to tear the American nation apart.
Levin, instead, has a suggestion: the revival of Madisonian thoughts regarding *republican* ideals- somewhat (but not completely) analogous to some modern foci on pluralism, but with the added focus of making pluralism work within a functioning government. After all, it was this very tension between these two competing camps that originally allowed the nation to come together under "e pluribus unum"... and Levin has some thoughts on how that can work again.
Levin does a detailed look at the ideas, how we got to where we are, how each plays out in each realm of American polity, and how a renewed focus on republicanism could heal our divided land. It is a dense look mostly written for scholars and deep thinkers, but for those that can hang with density akin to some substance just shy of lead... this promises to be quite illuminating indeed. And it is one that more Americans *should* read than likely actually *will*.
The single star deduction here is simply due to the shorter than expected bibliography, clocking in at about 13% of the Advance Review Copy of the text I was able to read, where even in a relaxed posture on that point I would still expect around 15%. Splitting hairs at that point, perhaps, but I've had these standards since I began reviewing books several years ago, and it wouldn't be fair to either this book or all the others to not hold to the same-ish standard.
Very much recommended.
July 21, 2024
This is exceedingly high-quality work here. Levin drills deep into the worldview behind the Constitution and shows what it was seeking to accomplish, how it was seeking to accomplish those things, and why recent critiques of various elements of the Constitution would lead to "solutions" that worsen our situation rather than improving it.
If only those who find the senate "undemocratic" or dislike the electoral college or want to neuter the supreme court would read this book! To channel Chesterton, I'll say that too many want to remove the gate without even realizing why it was there in the first place.
Levin even has a great chapter on why political parties are useful, even necessary. Really we should want stronger parties, not weaker ones. Levin offers other suggestions as well--increasing the size of the House, instant runoffs in primaries but not in general elections, a heavier caseload for the supreme court, and so on.
But to understand these suggestions, you've got to understand how they fit into the Founders' original goals. And to understand that, why not read this book?
If only those who find the senate "undemocratic" or dislike the electoral college or want to neuter the supreme court would read this book! To channel Chesterton, I'll say that too many want to remove the gate without even realizing why it was there in the first place.
Levin even has a great chapter on why political parties are useful, even necessary. Really we should want stronger parties, not weaker ones. Levin offers other suggestions as well--increasing the size of the House, instant runoffs in primaries but not in general elections, a heavier caseload for the supreme court, and so on.
But to understand these suggestions, you've got to understand how they fit into the Founders' original goals. And to understand that, why not read this book?
July 18, 2024
The civics lesson 2024 America needs. A bit dense but worthwhile. How are each of our branches of government supposed to work and why? Levin draws on the contemporary writings of the founders to answer this question. He also explains how and why Congress is failing to carry its weight, how that’s foisting too much onto both the Executive and Judicial branches, and what to do about it. Most of all, Levin makes a compelling case on how to redeem a culture of compromise in an era of polarizing absolutism.
July 20, 2024
So many these days are frustrated by our form of government because it won’t or can’t do what they want. The founders who created the Constitution that we all claim to revere did not create a system where a president was authoritarian or where small majorities could make sweeping changes. This is a feature not a bug. They wanted us to be unified in action while understanding that we would never be unified in thought. There will always be disagreements and Levin tells us that in order for us to move forward we must learn to disagree better.
June 26, 2024
Insightful; at times even brilliant; and boring as hell. Everything Yuval Levin writes is worth reading and pondering, as he is one of the premiere scholars of the American experiment. American Covenant is no less worth one’s time, even though it will be all one can do to stay with it to the end.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews