Consent of the Governed: 250 Years of Inalienable Rights- 2027
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—-That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
--Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Important Dates:
September 4, 2026: Abstract submission opens
December 10, 2026: Abstract submission closes
January 20, 2027: Paper submissions closes
March 23-25, 2027: Conference
We celebrate 250 years of freedom and liberty in America. No path of freedom for any people is easy; the journey is marked with trials, mistakes, perseverance, and much hard work. We celebrate the legacy of protecting the inalienable rights of the people; we note, too, that this has not always been the case for all people, but celebrate the unique emphasis that the Declaration of Independence had on these important, inherent rights. These rights are centered on the notion of imago Dei, that we as humans are made in God's image and that these rights pre-exist any human, social, cultural, or political convention.
This conference seeks to emphasize the importance of protecting and affirming those rights in all aspects of law, government, criminal justice, international relations, foreign policy, and public policy. We invite you to participate in this conference as a means of contributing to the journey of preserving the imago Dei in all aspects of law, government, and society and welcome papers in any of the following categories:
Abstracts are due by 12/10/26 and may be submitted here.
