Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution

Studies in Postwar American Political Development

by Amanda Hollis-Brusky

There are few intellectual movements in modern American political history more successful than the Federalist Society. Created in 1982 to counterbalance what its founders considered a liberal legal establishment, the organization gradually evolved into the conservative legal establishment, and membership is all but required for any conservative lawyer who hopes to enter politics or the judiciary. It claims 40,000 members, including five Supreme Court Justices, dozens of federal judges, and every Republican attorney general since its inception. But its power goes even deeper. In Ideas with Consequences , Amanda Hollis-Brusky provides the first comprehensive account of how the Federalist Society exerts influence. Updated in paperback to account for recent developments, this book is the essential guide to the post-Kavanaugh Federalist Society, which continues to broaden its reach at all levels.

Genres: Politics, Law, Nonfiction, History, American, Cultural, Legal

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 29, 2014

Reviews

[Douglas Crockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's pretty clear the right wing plan to corrupt the federal court system is to work through the Federalist Society. They claim to be conservatives but in fact have a revolutionary agenda to change the Constitution in a way to have the country controlled by the very richest people. They use voluminous papers, letters, articles, etc. from and about the people who created the Constitution to show that the founders will agree with whatever proposition they have come up with to change the way the country is governed. It's pretty much like theologians using the Bible to prove whatever it is they want it to prove.

This book is politically neutral and endorsed by a number of right wing personalities such as Prof. Yoo famous in the Bush administration for endorsing the use of torture. If you read between the lines it's pretty clear the author understands exactly how the supposedly conservative Federalist Society is engaging in a revolutionary agenda. Highly recommended.

[Caitlin Gugliotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of date by this point, obviously, but the tenants of the book are still true. The supremacy of the Federalist Society and its ability to simply manufacture scholarship and “respectability” through nothing but its own network is more true now than ever. Anger.

[Fiona Brauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book clubbed with Peter. He liked the sociology bits and I liked the law bits, shockingly. I thought I was going to be more fired up by the book as a whole, but Hollis-Brusky really avoided any normative evaluations. Though at the end she touches on the current difficulties facing the ACS in matching the FedSoc's influence given the lack of singular constitutional interpretive theory on the left, in contrast with the absolute centrality of originalism to the right, which got me fired up in that now I think we should abolish the judiciary because its all hopeless.

[Josine · Rating 3 out of 5]

experts agree fed soc sucks

[Matthew Luttmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

An academic perspective on the development and structure of the Federalist Society is the correct approach to a politically charged topic.

[Anya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting analysis, but read more like a research paper than a book.

[Abby Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.

[Chris Torretta]

I so hoped this would be up my alley. I just recently started reading more about politics. Sadly, I'm not THIS much into it YET.

If you enjoy politics and reading about it, especially the beginnings of an idea, this is definitely for you!