Monday, September 16, 2019

New FSF Scholars Paper on the Progressive Origins of the American Administrative State

On September 11, Professor Joseph Postell, a member of the Free State Foundation's Board of Academic Advisors, published a Perspectives from FSF Scholars paper titled "Progressivism and the True Beginnings of the Administrative State." Professor Postell is the author of an excellent work of history and political theory titled Bureaucracy in America: The Administrative State's Challenge to Constitutional Government, published in 2017 by University of Missouri Press

Professor Postell's Perspectives paper sets out a definition of the term "administrative state" and argues that the American administrative stated emerged in the early 20th Century, based on a now theory of constitutionalism advanced by Progressives. This paper is the latest installment in a series addressing important moments in the development of the American administrative state and explaining how those moments ought to guide contemporary reforms. The series is particularly timely today, on the eve of Constitution Day. 


Series on Constitutionalizing the Administrative State

Joseph Postell, "Bureaucracy in America: A Constitutional Approach to Administration," Perspectives from FSF Scholars, Vol. 13, No. 13 (April 17, 2018).

Joseph Postell, "The Framers Establish an Administrative Constitution," Perspectives from FSF Scholars, Vol. 13, No. 19 (May 24, 2018). 

Joseph Postell, "Reconciling Administration and Constitutionalism in Early America,"Perspectives from FSF Scholars, Vol. 14, No. 2 (January 14, 2019).

Joseph Postell, " Progressivism and the True Beginnings of the Administrative State,"Perspectives from FSF Scholars, Vol. 14, No. 21 (September 11, 2019).

Check out Professor Postell's scholarly work in this series and stay tuned for more.