Constitutional Law Center

The Drake Constitutional Law Center's mission is to foster study of the U.S. Constitution and its roots, formation, principles, and development.

The Constitutional Law Center is one of only four such centers established by Congress and funded by the federal government.

Throughout the year, the center hosts multiple lectures and symposiums to bring the nation's leading constitutional scholars to campus—giving students opportunities to discuss current issues such as race, religion, same-sex marriage, politics, criminal justice, free speech, and more.

Lectures hosted by the center include:

Distinguished Lecture Series – The Distinguished Lecture Series brings to campus the nation's leading constitutional scholars to engage students and faculty on the important issues of the day. Speakers deliver a formal lecture, teach a class, and meet with students in informal settings.

Constitutional Law Symposium – The annual Constitutional Law Symposium invites scholars, judges, and lawyers from across the country to discuss a timely constitutional issue. The proceedings are published in the Drake Law Review.

Judge James Grant Iowa Constitution Lecture Series – In 2012, the center initiated the Judge James Grant Iowa Constitution Lecture Series to feature prominent experts on the topic of the Iowa Constitution every other year.

Dwight D. Opperman Lecture series – In 1988, Dwight D. Opperman, LW'51, former chairman of West Publishing Company, endowed the lecture series to bring the country's top jurists and legal scholars to Drake. Since then, 11 U.S. Supreme Court justices have delivered the Opperman Lecture.

Learn more about the Constitutional Law Center:

• Academics

• Events

• Resources

Faculty and Staff

Mark Kende, Director of the Constitutional Law Center; James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law; Professor of Law
515-271-3354 mark.kende@365dafa6.com
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Miguel Schor, Professor of Law
515-271-4184 miguel.schor@365dafa6.com
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Dawn Brown, Administrative Assistant
515-271-2142 dawn.brown@365dafa6.com

Constitutional Law Center
conlawcenter@365dafa6.com