Center for Constitutional Studies

The Center for Constitutional Studies was established in 1990 as a special unit of the Institute for the purpose of sponsoring research, publishing books and monographs, and hosting symposiums and lectureships which focus solely on church-state and religious liberty concerns in the United States. The Center gives special attention to research and publication on the meaning and application of the religion clauses of the First Amendment, complementing the broader, international focus of the work of the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies.

In 1991 the Center broadened its focus by assuming operation of the Center for Constitutional Studies (no relationship to the Institute's own Center for Constitutional Studies) previously located at Notre Dame University and Mercer University. The historic purposes and goals of the former Center's operations -- the identification and response to legal issues affecting the autonomy and viability of independent, especially church-related colleges and universities in the United States -- are maintained.

The Center engages in appropriate research, and assists educational administrators, denominational executives, attorneys, Congressional and State legislatures, public officials, and others concerning legal issues affecting independent institutions of higher education. To ensure the continuation of the emphases of the Center from its previous locations, a number of the former Center's board of directors now serve on the National Advisory Council of the J. M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies.

The establishment of the Center and its ongoing work for Constitutional Studies has been made possible by the generous financial support of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the Lilly Foundation, whose commitment to religious liberty in the United States continues to be a great source of encouragement to the Institute of Church-State Studies and to Baylor University.