The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a legal membership organization founded in 1982, based at 1776 I Street NW in Washington, DC. Its IRS ruling date is July 1983 (EIN 36-3235550). For the 2023 tax year it reported total revenue of 49.9 million.
Stated purpose
The Society describes itself as “a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order” and “dedicated to reforming” it. It states three founding principles: “that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.”
Method
Its stated method is convening rather than litigating: it describes itself as “providing a forum for legal experts of opposing views to interact with members of the legal profession, the judiciary, [and] law students.” That takes the form of student and lawyer chapters, practice groups, and a large programme of recorded debates and panels.
Relevance to digital political discourse
The Society publishes its programming — panels, debates, podcasts and video — free on its own site and YouTube channel. Its output is therefore a public, searchable record of arguments made inside the conservative and libertarian legal world, rather than material confined to conference rooms.
Sources
- 01.
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. About Us. Source for the 1982 founding, the full legal name, the quoted statement of purpose and principles, and the organization's description of providing a forum for legal experts of opposing views.
- 02.
Internal Revenue Service, via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies, EIN 36-3235550 — IRS Form 990 filings. Source for the EIN, the July 1983 IRS ruling date, the 1776 I St NW, Washington DC address, and FY2023 revenue of $21.5 million and total assets of $49.9 million.