Robert William Bennett

Biography

Professor Bennett joined the Northwestern law faculty in 1969, and has taught at Northwestern ever since. He served as the school's dean from 1985 until 1995. Awarded by Harvard University, he received his BA degree summa cum laude, in 1962, and his LLB degree, cum laude, in 1965, where he served on the Harvard Law Review. Professor Bennett's scholarship is concentrated on public law subjects. Among his publications are several books, including Constitutional Originalism: A Debate (Cornell University Press) (co-authored with Lawrence Solum); Taming the Electoral College (Stanford University Press); Talking It Through: Puzzles of American Democracy (Cornell University Press); Hornbook on Law of the Poor (West Publishing Co.) (with three co-authors); and Chi Ellege Il Presidente Degli Stati Uniti (Giuffre Editore), which is a translation--not done by Professor Bennett--of Taming the Electoral College. Professor Bennett has engaged in a variety of extra-curricular activities. He was President of the American Bar Foundation from 1992 until 1994; he co-founded the Chicago Council of Lawyers and served as its President from 1971 to 1972; and at the present time he serves as the Reporter for the Uniform Law Commission's project to have the states adopt the Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act.

Research Interest

Constitutional Interpretation; The American Electoral College; Democratic Theory.