Andy Bibby
Associate Professor, Political Science
Andy's research focuses on American Federalism, Constitutional Liberalism, and Citizenship Education. He is an Associate Professor in Political Science and History at Utah Valley University. He is also Associate Director of the Center for Constitutional Studies and the project Director of the Federalism Index Project. Andy's books include Montesquieu's Political Economy (Palgrave 2015) and Rival Visions: How Jefferson and His Contemporaries Defined the Early American Republic (University of Virginia Press 2021). He received his PhD from Michigan State University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the James Madison Program on American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton.
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At UVU, Andy teaches classes in American Federalism, Modern and Classical Political Theory, Political Ideologies, and American Heritage. Andy has lectured in India, Uganda, France, and across the states on topics related to federalism and Constitutional thought. He publishes a monthly newsletter on American federalism policy - sign up below:
Research Interests
Andy's current research focuses on the relationship between political depolarization and decentralization in the American federal system.
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In connection to this work, Andy serves as the project lead for the Federalism Index Project at Utah Valley's Center for Constitutional Studies. The Federalism Index Project exists to help educators, state leaders, and ordinary citizens better understand the significance of American federalism in our everyday lives, and in the overall structure of the United States Constitution.
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In 2023, the Federalism Index Project partnered with the Utah State Legislature to develop the Federalism Policy Tracker. The Federalism Policy Tracker is designed to help policymakers and state legislators monitor and evaluate federal laws, policies, and actions that affect states and local government.
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Recent activities
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"Democracy, Revolution, and Auxiliary Precautions" Empowering Leadership Training, Diaspora Convention, Washington DC, August 11.
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Moderator, "Rethinking the relationship between the US and Uganda," Youth Forum, Diaspora Convention, Washington DC, August 12.
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"The Nature of the Federal Union Today" Constitutional Literacy Institute, Utah Valley University, June 27.
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"What is the Relationship Between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution?" Constitutional Literacy Institute, Utah Valley University, June 28.
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“Decentralizing Leadership: Community Transformation Workshop”: Institute of Advanced Leadership, Uganda, May 25.
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“Leadership, Rights, and the Rule of Law” American Leadership Academy, Kampala, Uganda, May 24
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“Understanding Constitutional Design: Public Workshop for Youth Leadership” Buganda Youth Council in conjunction with Buganda Nkobazambogo, Uganda. May 23
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“Why Choose Federalism?” presentation to the Hon. Prime Minister (Katikkiro) of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, Parliament of the Bugandan Kingdom,
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“Challenges of Federalism, United States and Uganda” with the Hon. Former Prime Minister Joseph Owen Ssemwogerere, American Leadership Class 2023, Ndeje University, May 16
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"Leadership and the Rule of Law in the United States and Africa," African Leadership Academy, April 14, 2023.
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"Centralization" - Federalism in America: An Encyclopedia. Under review
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Participant, "Republicanism, Federalism, and Local Self Government." (IHS, Washington DC., Feb. 2023)
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"American Federalism and ESG," Salt Lake Chamber Finance Committee, October 2022.
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"Why Federalism Works, and When it Doesn't," African Refugee Leadership Conference, Utah Valley University, October 2022.
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"Federalism Index updates," Utah Legislative Management Committee, October 2022.
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"Measuring Leviathan," Federalism Index Project blog, August 19, 2021