President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen wrote an essay in The Wall Street Journal discussing the recent indictment of former President Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election and how demagogic challenges to the rule of law were the Founders’ greatest fear. Read now

Debate at America’s Town Hall

National First Amendment Summit

Wednesday, September 13

4 p.m. reception; 5:30 p.m. program

The National Constitution Center, in partnership with a coalition of leading free speech organizations, is convening a National First Amendment Summit to discuss the increasing threats to freedom of expression and to celebrate the opening of the Center’s new First Amendment gallery. To lead off the event, author and free-speech advocate Salman Rushdie will engage in a virtual keynote conversation with Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America about the importance of free speech in a democratic society and the forces of censorship that imperil its existence. The summit will feature a series of panels with America’s leading First Amendment thinkers.

This program is presented in partnership with the Freedom Forum, FIRE, the First Amendment Watch at NYU, PEN America, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

The History of Religious Liberty in America

Monday, September 18

5:30 p.m. reception; 6:30 p.m. program

How did America’s founders view religious liberty? And what does it mean today? Join constitutional law experts Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law, and Michael McConnell, co-author of Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience, for a special Constitution Day discussion to celebrate the opening of the Center’s new First Amendment gallery. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

Constitution Day Celebration

Sunday, September 17 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Monday, September 18 | 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Free admission

In September 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution. Each year, the National Constitution Center hosts the best Constitution Day celebration in the country with special programming, activities, and more! The Center’s annual Constitution Day celebration takes place on Monday, September 18, with free admission courtesy of PECO. Admission to the museum is also free on Sunday, September 17, in honor of the 236th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.

Coming Soon: The First Amendment

On September 6, 2023, the National Constitution Center will open our newest gallery, The First Amendment. The 1,500-square-foot exhibit will feature more than 20 artifacts highlighting all five freedoms, including this demonstration flier in support of the Delano Grape Strike—a labor strike led predominately by Mexican and Filipino grape pickers in Delano, California. Learn more about the gallery

Explore Constitution 101

The Constitution 101 course provides learners of all ages with a basic understanding of the Constitution’s text, history, structure, and case law. Drawing on primary source documents, learners will study the historical and philosophical foundations of America’s founding principles from a range of diverse voices. Each unit includes a video with Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, primary source readings, landmark Supreme Court cases, and Interactive Constitution essays. This course is entirely self-paced, so you can complete it on your own schedule! Learn more about the Constitution 101 course

Virtual Museum Experiences to Further Your Constitutional Education

It’s back-to-school season! All year long, students can join our museum educators for fun programs exploring topics from constitutional history. 

• Live from the Museum brings intermediate learners through live virtual tours, workshops, and demonstrations that feature some of your favorite historical figures and events.
• Civic Stories for elementary learners are rooted in historical foundations through storytelling. Over the course of the year, students will discover the roles and responsibilities of citizens and the remarkable stories of historical figures who pursued civic action to form “a more perfect Union.”

Learn more about virtual museum experiences

WATCH

Montesquieu and the Constitution

Run time: 1 hour

William B. Allen, Thomas Pangle, Dennis Rasmussen, and Diana Schaub discuss the political thought of Montesquieu and his influence on American democracy. Watch now

LISTEN

Judge J. Michael Luttig on January 6 and the Indictment of President Donald Trump

Run time: 50 minutes

Earlier this month, former President Trump was indicted in federal court in Washington, D.C., for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential elections. Judge J. Michael Luttig joins Jeffrey Rosen for a conversation about the constitutional and historical questions raised by the indictment. Listen now

Justice Gorsuch and Native American Law

Run time: 1 hour

Native American law experts Marcia Zug and Timothy Sandefur discuss Justice Neil Gorsuch’s unique approach to Native American law by unpacking this term’s two major Native American law decisions, Haaland v. Brackeen and Arizona vs. Navajo Nation, as well as 2020’s McGirt v. Oklahoma. Listen now

303 Creative and Other Key Cases From SCOTUS’s 2022-23 Term

Run time: 53 minutes

David Cole and David French break down the 303 Creative decision, review other key decisions from the 2022-23 term, and consider where the Court may be headed next. Listen now

READ

Did Congress Invade the Judicial Power to Protect a Pipeline?

by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 5 minutes

“A political deal to secure the vote of a Democratic senator in the recent debt ceiling battle has teed up a U.S. Supreme Court fight over the authority of Congress to strip federal court review of a class of cases. ...” Read more

Supreme Court Rules Against Biden Administration’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program

by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes

“A divided Supreme Court on Friday has struck down an expansive debt-relief program for student loans created during the Covid-19 pandemic. ...” Read more

Support the Center

Your generous support enables the National Constitution Center to thrive as America’s leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. 

Connect with us

Update your email preferences using the Update Profile link below to subscribe to other National Constitution Center newsletters and manage how often you hear from us.