To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, AALS and organizers at Harvard Law School present five webinars on foundational themes explored in the book America Unfinished: 250 Years of Law and Governance (MIT Press, 2026). Edited by Alexandra Natapoff (Lee S. Kreindler Professor of Law) and Guy-Uriel Charles (Charles Ogletree, Jr. Professor of Law), the book assembles short essays from over 60 members of the Harvard Law School faculty, written from the perspectives of their many diverse fields, analyzing the issues facing our country’s bold experiment in democratic governance at this important milestone in American history.
Please note these programs will not be recorded.
Next Webinar: The Future of Economic Governance
October 19, 2026 | 2 – 3 PM Eastern/11 AM – 12 PM Pacific
Featuring Mariana Pargendler
The modern U.S. economy is dominated by private institutions whose power rivals that of the state. The governance of those institutions is thus a constitutional problem in miniature. This webinar is inspired by Mariana Pargendler’s essay “Corporate Governance and Private Power,” in which she argues that “U.S. law is [] moving toward developing-world cronyism, where controlling shareholders face few constraints and shape laws in their favor.” Webinar participants will explore the future of economic governance in a world dominated by private authority and the kinds of legal developments necessary to preserve democratic values.
Moderator
Geeyoung Min, Chair of the Business Associations Section, Emory University School of Law
Speakers
Mariana Pargendler, Harvard Law School
Jeffrey Gordon, Columbia Law School
Upcoming Webinars in 2026
Crime, Punishment and State Power
October 28, 2026 | 1:30 – 2:30 PM Eastern/10:30 – 11:30 AM Pacific
Featuring Alexandra Natapoff
Rule of law in the criminal process has long been elusive for the powerless, but until recently it has functioned relatively well for the privileged. This webinar is inspired by Alexandra Natapoff’s essay “American Criminal Law: From Inequality to Impunity,” in which she argues that elite criminal institutions such as DOJ are devolving in ways that mirror the unprincipled workings of the rest of the criminal process. Webinar participants will explore the criminal governance infrastructure and the current as well as perennial challenges that it poses to an egalitarian democracy.
Moderator
Valena Beety, Chair of Criminal Law Section, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Speakers
Alexandra Natapoff, Harvard Law School
Tracey Meares, Yale Law School
Citizenship, Identity and Race
November 4, 2026 | 1 – 2 PM Eastern/10 – 11 AM Pacific
Featuring Annette Gordon-Reed
American democracy has always been inextricably intertwined with questions of citizenship and belonging. This webinar is inspired by Annette Gordon-Reed’s essay “Making Americans: A History,” in which she charts the persistently warring visions of America: one based on ideals, the other based on blood and heritage. Webinar participants will explore the historic and legal trajectory of American identity, the current resurgence of “blood and soil” rhetoric, and the implications for the future of citizenship and equality in America.
Moderator
Jeremiah Chin, Chair of the Section on Civil Rights, University of Washington School of Law
Speakers
Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard Law School
Jamal Greene, Columbia Law School