Civic Virtue and Citizenship

Run time: 57 minutes

Christopher Beem, Richard Haass, and Lorraine Pangle discuss the concepts of civic virtue and citizenship in democratic societies. Listen now

We the People and Live at the National Constitution Center are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more 

The Espionage Act’s Constitutional Legacy

by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes

“One of the federal government’s most powerful laws is also known as one of its most controversial statutes: the Espionage Act. ...” Read more

August 14, 1765: The Sons of Liberty Take Over Boston

by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 4 minutes

“There were a lot of events that led to American Independence, but it was on this day in 1765 that the seeds of revolution were planted in an angry Boston when protesters let their feelings be known about unjust taxes. ...” Read more

National First Amendment Summit

Wednesday, September 13 | 4–8 p.m.

Join the National Constitution Center, in partnership with a coalition of leading free speech organizations, for a National First Amendment Summit to address the increasing threats to freedom of expression and to celebrate the opening of the Center’s new First Amendment gallery. Learn more or register to attend in-person or online

The Preamble

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Read interpretations in the Interactive Constitution

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