University of Minnesota
Department of Political Science
polisci@umn.edu
612-624-4144


Department of Political Science

Home > People > Faculty : Elizabeth Beaumont

Elizabeth Beaumont

Political Science 1414 Soc Sci Bldg. 267 - 19th Ave South
Curriculum Vitae

Department Affiliations

Narrative

Elizabeth Beaumont is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota.  Her research focuses on political theory, public law, and political socialization, particularly democratic theory and political engagement, and constitutional theory and development.

Prior to joining the Political Science department, Beaumont was a Research Scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching where she was the co-Principal Investigator and Director of the Political Engagement Project, a national multi-method research study of political learning and involvement in undergraduates.

Beaumont co-authored two books based on her Carnegie research:  Educating for Democracy (Wiley 2007) and Educating Citizens (Jossey-Bass 2003).  Her newest book, The Civic Constitution, (Oxford University Press, forthcoming 2013) focuses on the role of civic ideals, discourses, and struggles during several crucial eras of constitutional formation and change.  She is also author or co-author of several articles and book chapters.

Educating for Democracy is the focus of the American Democracy Project, a collaboration between the New York Times and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities that includes more than 200 campuses. 


  Current Research Projects (Selected)
  • The Civic Constitution. Oxford University Press. Forthcoming 2013.

  Grants, Research Awards, & Professional Recognition

    • Advisory Board Member, The New Civics Initiative, Spencer Foundation
    • McKnight Land-Grant Professorship , University of Minnesota, 2008-2010
    • Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Minnesota, Spring 2008
    • Graduate Research Partnership Program Grant, University of Minnesota 2007
    • Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Grant, University of Minnesota 2007
    • Faculty Summer Research Fellowship, University of Minnesota, 2006
    • The Atlantic Philanthropies ($500,000) 2002-2005
    • The Carnegie Corporation of New York ($300,000) 2001-2005
    • The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) ($75,000) 2002-2005
    • The Ford Foundation ($150,000) 2001-2005
    • The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation ($200,000) 2001-2005
    • The Irvine Foundation ($30,000) 2000-2001


Specialties

  • General fields: political theory, public law, and political socialization
  • Particular interests: civic education and engagement; liberal, democratic, and constitutional theory; American constitutional development; civil rights and civil liberties

Educational Background

  • Ph.D.: Political Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2000.
  • B.A.: English Literature, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, 1994, cum laude.

Publications

  • Educating for Democracy. 2007. (Colby, Beaumont, Ehrlich and Corngold). Wiley.
  • Educating Citizens: Preparing American Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility. 2003. (Colby, Ehrlich, Beaumont, and Stephens). Jossey Bass.
  • Promoting Political Agency, Addressing Political Inequality: A Multi-level Model of Political Efficacy.: Beaumont, Elizabeth, Journal of Politics, 73 216-231, 2011.
  • “Dance of the Seven Constitutional Veils: Constitutional Theory as Political Choice and Craft.“ Review Essay. Beaumont, Elizabeth.Political Theory, April 2010.
  • “Working Toward Political Agency and Empowerment: Identifying Pathways to Political Efficacy in Young Adults." Beaumont, Elizabeth. Handbook of Research and Policy on Youth Civic Engagement Ed. Sherrod, Flanagan, and Torney-Purta. Wiley, 2010.
  • Founding Principles and Founding Politics: Jack Rakove’s Contributions to Constitutional Theory. : Beaumont, Elizabeth, Extensions: Journal of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center. , Winter , 2010.
  • “The Slow Evolution of “The Constitution State.“ Beaumont, Elizabeth. in The Constitutionalism of American States, ed. C. Hammons. University of Missouri Press, 2008.
  • “Beyond Civics 101: Rethinking What We Mean by Civic Education.“ Journal of Political Science Education, 2006.Vol. 2, No. 3: 241-247. (Beaumont and Battistoni).
  • “Promoting Political Competence and Engagement in College Students: An Empirical Study.“ Journal of Political Science Education, 2006. Vol 2, No. 3: 249-270. (Beaumont, Colby Ehrlich, and Torney-Purta).
  • Higher Education: Civic Mission & Civic Effects. 2006. Multi-author policy Report. ed. Peter Levine. Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
  • Rights Talk in the Past Tense: Beaumont, Elizabeth, (Rakove and Beaumont), Stanford Law Review, 52 1865-95, 2000.
  • The Right to Petition. Beaumont, Elizabeth. Essay for The Encyclopedia of the Constitution. Ed. David A. Shultz. Facts on File.
  • The Military and First Amendment Rights: Beaumont, Elizabeth, Ed. D. Hudson, D. Schultz, & J. Vile. CQ Press, Essay for The Encyclopedia of the First Amendment.

Awards

  • McKnight Land-Grant Junior Professorship 2008-2010
  • National Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University 2009-2010
  • Faculty Residential Fellow, Institute of Advanced Study, University of Minnesota, Spring 2008
  • Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University (June 2008)
  • Graduate Research Partnership Program Grant (GRPP) 2007
  • Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Grant (UROP) 2007
  • Faculty Summer Research Fellowship, University of Minnesota 2006
  • The Atlantic Philanthropies 2002-2005
  • The Carnegie Corporation of New York 2001-2005
  • The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE) 2002-2005
  • The Ford Foundation 2001-2005
  • The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation 2001-2005
  • The Irvine Foundation 2000-2001

Courses Taught

  • Constitutional Law I: The Supreme Court & Institutional Powers
  • Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties
  • Political Ideas and Ideologies
  • Constitutional Theory and Development
  • Liberalism and Its Critics
  • Exploring Constitutional Meanings: From the Founders to the MySpace Generation
  • Democratic Theory
  • American Political Thought
Alternative Output Formats Alternative Output Formats