Why Originalism is the Proper Way to Interpret the U.S. Constitution

The interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, the foundational legal document of the United States, is a matter of profound significance. It shapes the scope of government power, the protection of individual rights, and the resolution of disputes that define the nation’s legal and political landscape. Among the various approaches to constitutional interpretation, Originalism stands out as the most principled, consistent, and legitimate method. Originalism holds that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original public meaning of its text at the time it was adopted. This essay argues that Originalism is the proper way to interpret the Constitution because it respects the document’s status as a written, democratically enacted law, preserves the rule of law, constrains judicial discretion, and aligns with the Constitution’s purpose as a stable framework for governance. While acknowledging competing theories such as Living Constitutionalism, this essay demonstrates that Originalism provides the most coherent and defensible approach to constitutional interpretation.