Welfare and the Constitution (Paperback, Revised)

"Barber elegantly (and convincingly) demonstrates that, once negative constitutionalists impose on government a duty to advance the public welfare by punishing theft and fraud and by enforcing contracts, they concede that there is a constitutional duty to help the less fortunate. Issues of how to do so then become issues of practical judgment and political prudence."--Walter F. Murphy, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Emeritus, Princeton University

"Contrary to the negative-rights vision of the Constitution that pervades the thinking of liberal and conservative constitutional theory, this superb book demonstrates that the general welfare is a primary obligation of government under the Constitution."--Ronald Kahn, James Monroe Professor of Politics, Oberlin College

"In this brilliant book Sotirios Barber follows The Federalist, arguing for a broad and robust understanding of what it means to promote the general welfare."--Jeffrey K. Tulis, University of Texas, Austin

"In this brilliant book Sotirios Barber follows The Federalist, arguing for a broad and robust understanding of what it means to promote the general welfare."--Jeffrey K. Tulis, University of Texas, Austin

"This book is extraordinarily important. It is the most ambitious and realized work of constitutional theory that argues for a positive benefits model of the Constitution. It is also exceptionally well written. The prose is forceful, engaging, and eloquent; the tone is serious and commanding, though disarmingly conversational and accessible. Barber's arguments are at once boldly unconventional and yet derived from traditional sources like Lincoln and The Federalist Papers."--James E. Fleming, FordhamUniversity School of Law

""Welfare and the Constitution" engages in extensive, subtle, and sophisticated inquiry into the obligations that the federal Constitution imposes on government."--Lee Anne Fennell, University of Texas School of Law