Macedo served as the president of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy from 2018 until 2021.

Macedo matriculated at the College of William & Mary, earning a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in 1979 with Phi Beta Kappa membership.

He writes and teaches on political theory, ethics, American constitutionalism, and public policy, with an emphasis on liberalism, justice, and the roles of schools, civil society, and public policy in promoting citizenship.

He served as founding director of Princeton's Program in Law and Public Affairs (1999-2001).

He recently served as vice president of the American Political Science Association and chair of its first standing committee on Civic Education and Engagement, and in this capacity he is principal co-author of Democracy at Risk: Public Policy and the Renewal of American Citizenship.