American citizens think of the U.S. Constitution as a living document that guarantees civil rights, but many don’t realize the strong influence corporations have had in shaping the highest laws of the land. In his new book , We the Corporations: How American Businesses Won Their Civil Rights , UCLA law professor Adam Winkler explores the 200-year history of how businesses have molded jurisprudence. He joined t he Knowledge at Wharton show, which airs on SiriusXM channel 111 , for a look into the co-opting of political power.

An edited transcript of the conversation follows.

Knowledge at Wharton: Should corporations have the same rights as American citizens?

Adam Winkler: This has become a big controversy since the Citizens United case in 2010 held that corporations have the same free speech right as people to spend money on elections.…