USSC Briefing Room | America at 250: America’s sacred (yet secular) documents with David Smith

4 July 2026

In honour of America’s semiquincentennial, the USSC has published a compilations of essays and recent polling: Reflections on America at 250 and we are releasing a series of podcast episodes with the authors. In the second episode in the series we are speaking with Associate Professor David Smith about his article: America’s sacred documents.

Podcast by

Associate Professor David Smith

Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign PolicyUnited States Studies Centre (jointly appointed with the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Sydney)

Mari Koeck

Director of Engagement and ImpactUnited States Studies Centre

The words of the Declaration of Independence are world famous and, in many ways, America’s founding documents are “sacred” although they are secular. What makes America’s Declaration of Independence and Constitution unique? How are Australia’s founding documents different? How have these differences played out in the relationship between these foundational documents and their people?

In honour of America’s semiquincentennial, the USSC has published a compilations of essays and recent polling: Reflections on America at 250 and we are releasing a series of podcast episodes with the authors. In the second episode in the series we are speaking with Associate Professor David Smith about his article: America’s sacred documents.

America's sacred documents

The Declaration of Independence did not just found the United States. It founded a unique political culture based on sacred — yet secular — documents. A culture where the most important political symbols are words.

America's sacred documents

The Declaration of Independence did not just found the United States. It founded a unique political culture based on sacred — yet secular — documents. A culture where the most important political symbols are words.