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|Type = [[501(c)(3)]]
|Type = [[501(c)(3)]]
|Affiliation =  
|Affiliation =  
|Top official = Caroline Fredrickson, President
|Top official = Zinelle October, Interim President
|Founder(s) =  
|Founder(s) = [[Peter Rubin]]
|Year founded =2001  
|Year founded =2001  
|Number of employees =
|Number of employees =
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|Connections = }} {{tnr}}
|Connections = }} {{tnr}}


The '''American Constitution Society for Law and Policy''' (ACS), often referred to as the '''American Constitution Society''', is a [[501(c)(3)]] [[nonprofit organization]] that promotes a progressive, [[Living Constitution|''living'' interpretation]] of the [[United States Constitution]]. The organization participates in discourse on legal and constitutional issues while building networks among lawyers, law students, judges and policy makers that share a similar vision. The American Constitution Society opposes what it calls an "activist conservative legal movement" that advances an [[Originalism|originalist]] reading of the Constitution.<ref name=about>[https://www.acslaw.org/about ''American Constitution Society'', "About ACS," accessed July 21, 2015]</ref>
The '''American Constitution Society for Law and Policy''' (ACS), often referred to as the '''American Constitution Society''', is a [[501(c)(3)]] [[nonprofit organization]] describing itself as "the nation’s foremost progressive legal organization, with a diverse nationwide network that includes nearly 200 student and lawyer chapters, and progressive lawyers, students, judges, scholars, elected officials, and advocates."<ref name=about>[https://www.acslaw.org/about-us/ ''American Constitution Society'', "About ACS," accessed September 10, 2025]</ref> The organization was founded in 2001.  
 
==Mission==
The organization has the following mission:<ref name=mission>[https://www.acslaw.org/about/mission ''American Constitution Society'', "Mission," accessed July 21, 2015]</ref>
 
{{Quote|
The American Constitution Society embraces the progress our nation has made toward full embodiment of the Constitution's core values. ACS believes that law can and should be a force for improving the lives of all people. We are revitalizing and transforming legal and policy debates in classrooms, courtrooms, legislature and the media, and we are building  a diverse and dynamic network of progressives committed to justice. Through these efforts, ACS will ensure that the institutions of American law reflect the highest values of our nation and serve the needs of its people.}}


==Background==
==Background==
Attorney [[Peter Rubin]] founded the ACS in 2001. Rubin was a professor at Georgetown University Law Center who earlier worked at the law firm of O'Melveny and Myers, LLP and served as counsel to presidential candidate [[Al Gore]] (D) in the Supreme Court case ''[[Bush v. Gore]]''. Rubin described the organization as a progressive-leaning counterpart to the [[Federalist Society]]: "We have a long way to go to be close to what the Federalist Society does in terms of the validity of their resources and the profound influence that they play in American law every day. But we're working on it and we're catching up."<ref>[https://www.law.com/article/almID/900005407017/?slreturn=20250910100927 ''Law.com'', "Nationwide Law School Turf War Ignited," April 29, 2004]</ref>


Founded in 2001, the American Constitution Society's (ACS) progressive advocacy, according to their website, is meant to bring about positive change on issues such as equal access to the legal system, constitutional interpretation, the right to vote, economic, workplace and environmental regulations, civil rights, First Amendment rights, healthcare reform, and the execution of government.<ref name=Issues>[https://www.acslaw.org/issues ''ACS'', "Issues," accessed August 12, 2105]</ref><ref name=about/> The ACS utilizes networks of lawyers, judges, policy experts, legislators and academics and a system of student and lawyer chapters in 48 states to counter what it calls on its website the activist conservative legal movement.<ref name=about/>
As of September 2025, the organization's stated mission was "to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities."<ref name=about/>
 
In 2008, [[Eric Holder]]—former ACS board member and current member of ACS—upon taking the role of attorney general for the [[Barack Obama]] administration, encouraged young lawyers to join the ACS and stated: "With this new administration that will be taking its place in January of 2009, you know, we are going to be looking for people who share our values, [and a] substantial number of those people [would probably be] members of the A.C.S.”<ref name=Liberal>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/11/us/politics/11network.html?_r=0 ''The New York Times'', "Liberal Legal Group Is Following New Administration’s Path to Power," December 10, 2008]</ref> ''The New York Times'' also noted that the ACS was cautious not to repeat the selective appointments that former President [[George W. Bush]]'s administration had made with the conservative group [[Federalist Society]], in which non-members were barred from interviews for career civil-service jobs in some cases.<ref name=Liberal/>


==Leadership==
==Leadership==
As of September 2025, the following individuals held positions of leadership within the American Constitution Society:<ref>[https://www.acslaw.org/about-us/staff/ ''American Constitution Society'', "Staff," accessed September 10, 2025]</ref>
*'''Zinelle October''', ''interim president''
*'''Nathan Clark''', ''chief financial officer''
*'''Meghan Paulas''', ''vice president of network advancement''
*'''Christopher Wright Durocher''', ''vice president of policy and program''
*'''Zachary Gima''', ''vice president of strategic engagement''
*'''Ashley Erickson''', ''senior director of network advancement''
*'''Carlye Gibson Rooney''', ''senior director of development''
*'''Lindsay Langholz''', ''senior director of policy and program''
*'''Peggy Li''', ''senior director of chapters''
*'''Valerie M. Nannery''', ''senior director of policy and program''
*'''Nancy Rodriguez''', ''director of communications''
*'''Morgan Washburn''', ''HR director''
*'''Sylvester Lindsay''', ''director of information technology''
*'''Kendra McCormick''', ''director of finance''
*'''Taonga Leslie''', ''director of policy and program for racial justice''
*'''Thea Cohen''', ''director of strategic engagement''


Below is a list of the board of directors.<ref>[https://www.acslaw.org/about/leadership ''ACS'', "Leadership," accessed August 12, 2015]</ref>
As of September 2025, the following individuals sat on the American Constitution Society's board of directors:<ref>[https://www.acslaw.org/about-us/leadership/ ''American Constitution Society'', "Leadership," accessed September 10, 2025]</ref>
*'''Gabriella Barbosa'''
*'''Kesner Bienvenu'''
*'''Nicole Devereaux'''
*'''Kaisa Goodman'''
*'''Michele Goodwin'''
*'''Keith M. Harper'''
*'''Derek T. Ho'''
*'''Roscoe Jones, Jr.'''
*'''Peter Karanjia'''
*'''Joshua Matz'''
*'''Barbara L. McQuade'''
*'''Alice O'Brien'''
*'''Hayley Penan'''
*'''Gregory Rose'''
*'''Ralph J. Sutton'''
*'''Joyce Vance'''


<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2" class="mobile-columns">
==Work and activities==
*'''Debo P. Adegbile'''
===Legislative and policy work===
*'''Elise Boddie'''
====Issue advocacy====
*'''David M. Brodsky''', ''Chair''
The ACS "works for positive change by shaping debate and generating resources and expertise on vitally important legal and constitutional issues including access to courts, voting, equality, and many other issues directly affecting people’s lives," focusing on the 13 following issue areas:<ref>[https://www.acslaw.org/issues/ ''American Constitution Society'', "Issues," accessed September 10, 2025]</ref>
*'''Timothy W. Burns'''
<div style="column-count:5;-moz-column-count:5;-webkit-column-count:5" class="mobile-columns">
*'''Elizabeth J. Cabraser'''
*Access to Justice
*'''Mark Califano'''
*Constitutional Interpretation
*'''Erwin Chemerinsky'''
*Criminal Justice
*'''Peter B. Edelman'''
*Democracy and Elections
*'''Michael J. Faris'''
*Equality and Liberty
*'''Julie Fernandes'''
*First Amendment
*'''David C. Frederick'''
*Immigration
*'''Caroline Fredrickson''', ''ACS President''
*Importance of the Courts
*'''Nancy Gertner'''
*National Security and Civil Liberties
*'''Linda Greenhouse'''
*Regulation and the Administrative State
*'''Reuben A. Guttman'''
*Separation of Powers and Federalism
*'''Dennis J. Herrera'''
*Technology Law and Intellectual Property
*'''Dawn Johnsen'''
*Workers' Rights
*'''Brad S. Karp'''
*'''Sophie Kim''', ''Student Board Member, Harvard Law School''
*'''William P. Marshall'''
*'''Robert Raben'''
*'''Judith Scott'''
*'''Reva Siegel'''
*'''Cliff Sloan'''
*'''Dawn L. Smalls'''
*'''Jessica Smith''', ''Student Board Member, Howard Law School''
*'''Paul M. Smith'''
*'''David A. Strauss'''
*'''Harry Susman'''
*'''Christine A. Varney'''
*'''Adam Winkler'''
</div>
</div>


Below is a list of the executive leadership for ACS:<ref>[https://www.acslaw.org/about/staff ''ACS'', "Staff," accessed January 18, 2016]</ref>
====Projects====
<div style="column-count:2;-moz-column-count:2;-webkit-column-count:2" class="mobile-columns">
The ACS's "various projects provide resources and best practices for policymakers, lawyers, and advocates on key legal issues as well as engage communities across the country in promoting the Constitution," with 15 projects listed as of September 2025:<ref>[https://www.acslaw.org/projects/ ''American Constitution Society'', "Projects," accessed September 10, 2025]</ref>
*'''Caroline Fredrickson''', ''President''
<div style="column-count:5;-moz-column-count:5;-webkit-column-count:5" class="mobile-columns">
*'''Kara Stein''', ''Vice President, Policy Development and Programming''
*Article V of the U.S. Constitution
*'''Zinelle October''', ''Vice President, Network Advancement''
*Constitution in the Classroom
*'''Jeremy Leaming''', ''Vice President, Communications''
*The Death Penalty in America
*'''Jill Dash''', ''Vice President, Strategic Engagement''
*Equal Rights Amendment
*'''Belinda Macauley''', ''Vice President, Development & Senior Counsel''
*Judicial Nominations
*'''Thomas M. Pazzi''', ''Chief Financial Officer''
*Law and Political Economy
*Next Generation Leaders
*Path to the Bench
*Protecting Reproductive Rights
*Run. Vote. Work.
*SCOTUS Confirmation Processes
*State Attorneys General Project
*Supreme Court Reform
*Racial Justice Project
*Voting Rights Projects
</div>
</div>
==Notable endorsements==
<APIWidget where='endorser_organization=34785'  template='EndorsementsByEndorser'  />


==Finances==
==Finances==
 
The following is a breakdown of the American Constitution Society's revenues and expenses from 2001 to 2023. The information comes from [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522313694 ProPublica.]
The following is a breakdown of the American Constitution Society's (ACS) contributions and gifts, total annual revenue and the organizations expenses for the 2010-2013 fiscal years, as reported to the IRS.
<datatable caption="American Constitutional Society financial data 2001-2023">
{| class="wikitable" margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom:3px; margin-left:3px; style="background:none; width:550px;"
! align="left"|Year
! colspan="4" align="center" style="background-color:#008000; color: white;" | Annual contributions, revenues and expenses for ACS, 2010-2013
! Revenue 
! Expenses
|-
| 2001 || $0.5 million || $0.1 million
|-
| 2002 || $0.6 million || $0.4 million
|-
| 2003 || $1.3 million || $1.2 million
|-
| 2004 || $2.3 million || $1.6 million
|-
| 2005 || $3.3 million || $2.0 million
|-
| 2006 || $5.0 million || $2.7 million
|-
| 2007 || $3.0 million || $3.6 million
|-
| 2008 || $3.3 million || $4.2 million
|-
| 2009 || $4.5 million || $4.0 million
|-
| 2010 || $4.4 million || $4.2 million
|-
| 2011 || $4.1 million || $4.1 million
|-
| 2012 || $3.2 million || $4.2 million
|-
| 2013 || $6.9 million || $4.5 million
|-
| 2014 || $3.6 million || $4.6 million
|-
| 2015 || $4.5 million || $5.1 million
|-
| 2016 || $6.5 million || $5.0 million
|-
| 2017 || $6.4 million || $5.9 million
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | Tax Year
| 2018 || $4.9 million || $6.4 million
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | Contributions and grants received
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | Total annual revenue
! style="background-color:#444; color: white;" | Expenses
|-
|-
|2014<ref name=Fourteen>[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/522/313/2014-522313694-0be60073-9.pdf ''Guidestar'', "ACS, IRS Form 990 (2014)," accessed January 19, 2016 12, 2015]</ref>||$2,693,040||$3,575,507||$4,627,486
| 2019 || $8.2 million || $6.8 million
|-
|-
|2013<ref name=Thirteen>[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2013/522/313/2013-522313694-0b052dfa-9.pdf ''Guidestar'', "ACS, IRS Form 990 (2013)," accessed August 12, 2015]</ref>||$6,042,545||$6,900,044||$4,466,589
| 2020 || $6.0 million || $5.5 million
|-
|-
|2012<ref name=Twelve>[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2012/522/313/2012-522313694-09cc2bef-9.pdf ''Guidestar'', "ACS, IRS Form 990 (2012)," accessed August 12, 2015]</ref>||$2,405,265||$13,182,015||$4,166,211
| 2021 || $5.6 million || $6.4 million
|-
|-
|2011<ref name=Eleven>[http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2011/522/313/2011-522313694-08a5be94-9.pdf ''Guidestar'', "ACS, IRS Form 990 (2011)," accessed August 12, 2015]</ref>||$3,375,739||$4,118,918||$4,087829
| 2022 || $6.1 million || $6.6 million
|-
|-
|2010<ref name=Eleven/>||$3,823,457||$4,434,076||$4,177,359
| 2023 || $8.7 million || $6.4 million
|}
</datatable>


==Recent news==
{{News feed form
|Term1=American
|Term2=Constitution
|Term3=Society
|Term4=for
|Term5=Law
|Term6=and
|Term7=Policy
|Term8=
}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[What is an influencer|What is an influencer?]]
*[[United States Constitution]]
*[[United States Constitution]]
*[[Living Constitution]]
*[[Originalism]]
*[[Democracy Alliance]]
*[[501(c)(3)]]
*[[501(c)(3)]]
*[[Nonprofit organization]]
*[[Nonprofit organization]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.acslaw.org/ Official website]
*[https://www.acslaw.org/ American Constitution Society official website]
*[http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/52-2313694/american-constitution-society-law-policy.aspx ACS on GuideStar]
*[https://www.facebook.com/acslaw American Constitution Society on Facebook]
*Social media:
*[https://twitter.com/acslaw American Constitution Society on X]
**[https://www.facebook.com/acslaw Facebook]
*[https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-constitution-society/ American Constitution Society on LinkedIn]
**[https://twitter.com/ACSLaw Twitter]
*[https://www.youtube.com/c/AcslawOrg American Constitution Society on YouTube]
**[https://www.linkedin.com/groups?mostPopular=&gid=1269597 Linkedin]
*[https://www.instagram.com/americanconstitutionsociety American Constitution Society on Instagram]


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
Line 142: Line 185:
[[Category:National influencers]]
[[Category:National influencers]]
[[Category:Progressive influencers]]
[[Category:Progressive influencers]]
[[Category:Democracy Alliance]]


[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Latest revision as of 14:38, 10 September 2025

American Constitution Society for Law and Policy
ACS logo.jpg
Basic facts
Location:Washington, D.C.
Type:501(c)(3)
Top official:Zinelle October, Interim President
Founder(s):Peter Rubin
Year founded:2001
Website:Official website
Board members
David M. Brodsky (Chair)


The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS), often referred to as the American Constitution Society, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization describing itself as "the nation’s foremost progressive legal organization, with a diverse nationwide network that includes nearly 200 student and lawyer chapters, and progressive lawyers, students, judges, scholars, elected officials, and advocates."[1] The organization was founded in 2001.

Background

Attorney Peter Rubin founded the ACS in 2001. Rubin was a professor at Georgetown University Law Center who earlier worked at the law firm of O'Melveny and Myers, LLP and served as counsel to presidential candidate Al Gore (D) in the Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore. Rubin described the organization as a progressive-leaning counterpart to the Federalist Society: "We have a long way to go to be close to what the Federalist Society does in terms of the validity of their resources and the profound influence that they play in American law every day. But we're working on it and we're catching up."[2]

As of September 2025, the organization's stated mission was "to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities."[1]

Leadership

As of September 2025, the following individuals held positions of leadership within the American Constitution Society:[3]

  • Zinelle October, interim president
  • Nathan Clark, chief financial officer
  • Meghan Paulas, vice president of network advancement
  • Christopher Wright Durocher, vice president of policy and program
  • Zachary Gima, vice president of strategic engagement
  • Ashley Erickson, senior director of network advancement
  • Carlye Gibson Rooney, senior director of development
  • Lindsay Langholz, senior director of policy and program
  • Peggy Li, senior director of chapters
  • Valerie M. Nannery, senior director of policy and program
  • Nancy Rodriguez, director of communications
  • Morgan Washburn, HR director
  • Sylvester Lindsay, director of information technology
  • Kendra McCormick, director of finance
  • Taonga Leslie, director of policy and program for racial justice
  • Thea Cohen, director of strategic engagement

As of September 2025, the following individuals sat on the American Constitution Society's board of directors:[4]

  • Gabriella Barbosa
  • Kesner Bienvenu
  • Nicole Devereaux
  • Kaisa Goodman
  • Michele Goodwin
  • Keith M. Harper
  • Derek T. Ho
  • Roscoe Jones, Jr.
  • Peter Karanjia
  • Joshua Matz
  • Barbara L. McQuade
  • Alice O'Brien
  • Hayley Penan
  • Gregory Rose
  • Ralph J. Sutton
  • Joyce Vance

Work and activities

Legislative and policy work

Issue advocacy

The ACS "works for positive change by shaping debate and generating resources and expertise on vitally important legal and constitutional issues including access to courts, voting, equality, and many other issues directly affecting people’s lives," focusing on the 13 following issue areas:[5]

  • Access to Justice
  • Constitutional Interpretation
  • Criminal Justice
  • Democracy and Elections
  • Equality and Liberty
  • First Amendment
  • Immigration
  • Importance of the Courts
  • National Security and Civil Liberties
  • Regulation and the Administrative State
  • Separation of Powers and Federalism
  • Technology Law and Intellectual Property
  • Workers' Rights

Projects

The ACS's "various projects provide resources and best practices for policymakers, lawyers, and advocates on key legal issues as well as engage communities across the country in promoting the Constitution," with 15 projects listed as of September 2025:[6]

  • Article V of the U.S. Constitution
  • Constitution in the Classroom
  • The Death Penalty in America
  • Equal Rights Amendment
  • Judicial Nominations
  • Law and Political Economy
  • Next Generation Leaders
  • Path to the Bench
  • Protecting Reproductive Rights
  • Run. Vote. Work.
  • SCOTUS Confirmation Processes
  • State Attorneys General Project
  • Supreme Court Reform
  • Racial Justice Project
  • Voting Rights Projects

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.

Finances

The following is a breakdown of the American Constitution Society's revenues and expenses from 2001 to 2023. The information comes from ProPublica.

American Constitutional Society financial data 2001-2023
Year Revenue Expenses
2001 $0.5 million $0.1 million
2002 $0.6 million $0.4 million
2003 $1.3 million $1.2 million
2004 $2.3 million $1.6 million
2005 $3.3 million $2.0 million
2006 $5.0 million $2.7 million
2007 $3.0 million $3.6 million
2008 $3.3 million $4.2 million
2009 $4.5 million $4.0 million
2010 $4.4 million $4.2 million
2011 $4.1 million $4.1 million
2012 $3.2 million $4.2 million
2013 $6.9 million $4.5 million
2014 $3.6 million $4.6 million
2015 $4.5 million $5.1 million
2016 $6.5 million $5.0 million
2017 $6.4 million $5.9 million
2018 $4.9 million $6.4 million
2019 $8.2 million $6.8 million
2020 $6.0 million $5.5 million
2021 $5.6 million $6.4 million
2022 $6.1 million $6.6 million
2023 $8.7 million $6.4 million


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 American Constitution Society, "About ACS," accessed September 10, 2025
  2. ↑ Law.com, "Nationwide Law School Turf War Ignited," April 29, 2004
  3. ↑ American Constitution Society, "Staff," accessed September 10, 2025
  4. ↑ American Constitution Society, "Leadership," accessed September 10, 2025
  5. ↑ American Constitution Society, "Issues," accessed September 10, 2025
  6. ↑ American Constitution Society, "Projects," accessed September 10, 2025
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