Keith Whittington is a contemporary American constitutional theorist and political scientist at Princeton University. He is best known for distinguishing between constitutional interpretation—the judicial task of applying clear textual meaning—and constitutional construction, the political process by which ambiguous constitutional provisions acquire substantive meaning over time. His scholarship integrates legal theory and American political development to examine how constitutional meaning is produced across all branches of government.
Developed the theory of constitutional construction, distinguishing judicial interpretation from political branch meaning-making
Articulated an originalist interpretive theory grounded in the abstract intentions of the Founders rather than specific expected applications
Authored 'Constitutional Interpretation: Textual Meaning, Original Intent, and Judicial Review' (1999)
Authored 'Constitutional Construction: Divided Powers and Constitutional Meaning' (1999)
Contributed influential scholarship on judicial review, presidential power, and the political foundations of judicial authority