What is the nature of the us constitution how ought it to be interpreted ronald dworkin famously argued that fidelity in interpreting the constitution as written calls for a fusion of constitutional law and moral philosophy sotirios a barber and james e fleming take up that call arguing for a philosophic approach to constitutional interpretation. Constitutional interpretation the basic questions examines the fundamental inquiries that arise in interpreting constitutional law in doing so the authors survey the controversial and intriguing questions that have stirred constitutional debate in the united states for over two centuries such as how and for what ends should governmental institutions and powers be arranged what does the constitution mean under general circumstances and how should it be interpreted during concrete . Download citation constitutional interpretation the basic questions what is the nature of the us constitution how ought it to be interpreted ronald dworkin famously argued that fidelity in . Constitutional interpretation the basic questions examines the fundamental inquiries that arise in interpreting constitutional law in doing so the authors survey the controversial and intriguing questions that have stirred constitutional debate in the united states for over two centuries such as how and for what ends should governmental institutions and powers be arranged what does the constitution mean under general circumstances and how should it be interpreted during concrete . Constitutional interpretation the basic questions illustrates that these approaches cannot avoid philosophic reflection and choice in interpreting the constitution barber and fleming contend that fidelity in constitutional interpretation requires a fusion of philosophic and other approaches properly understood