The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization comprised of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, policymakers, activists and other concerned individuals who are working to ensure that the fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice are in their rightful, central place in American law.
Today, America’s values, our constitutional heritage, and the freedoms and opportunities of our people are being undermined by a narrow, conservative approach to the law that lacks appropriate regard for the ways in which the law affects people’s lives. This conservative vision, which is advanced by a highly organized movement and has come to dominate American law and public policy — from law school classrooms to legislative hearing rooms and federal courtrooms — threatens to undermine the true promise of our Constitution.
ACS is committed to fostering a progressive vision of the law on issues across the policy spectrum, including access to the courts; antidiscrimination and affirmative action; civil liberties; consumer rights; criminal justice; disability rights; freedom of speech; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights; international human rights; immigration; open government; labor law; the political process; privacy; protection of health, safety and the environment; and women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
Announcements
None at this time
Highlighted Recent Event
ACS Dinner with Hon. William A. Fletcher, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Jan. 21, 2009)
Our Work
With over 155 law school and lawyer chapters all across the country and its recently launched Constitution in the 21st Century project, ACS is working to:
Promote a progressive vision of the Constitution, public policy and the law through speaking programs; issue groups focused on discrete law and policy subjects; an annual convention; a speakers bureau of leading scholars and practitioners; media outreach and publications, all designed to turn the tide of legal and policy discourse at both the local and national levels;
Educate lawyers, law students, decision-makers and the public about the legitimacy of such a vision and its importance for both our society and the lives of individuals;
Strengthen the intellectual underpinnings for progressive law and policy in the United States; and
Build a diverse and dynamic national network of students, lawyers, academics, judges and policymakers to lead America today and over the long term.
ACS is a non-partisan, non-profit educational organization. We do not, as an organization, lobby, litigate or take positions on specific issues, cases, legislation or nominations. We do encourage our members to express their views and make their voices heard.
For any website questions/comments, please contact Vishesh Narayen (JD '10) at v-narayen2010@nlaw.northwestern.edu
