Justice Stephen Breyer on Reading the Constitution

Run time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer (ret.) unveils his new book, Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism, at the National Constitution Center in conversation with Jeffrey Rosen. Listen now

Lincoln’s Lessons: Then and Now

Run time: 1 hour

Acclaimed Lincoln historians Sidney Blumenthal and Harold Holzer assess Lincoln’s life and legacy to unveil remarkable similarities between the 19th century and today. Watch 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 

Once Again, Supreme Court Dives into Abortion Fray

by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 6 minutes

“The only people who may have actually believed the Supreme Court was getting out of the abortion issue by eliminating the constitutional right to abortion and returning the issue to the states likely were the conservative justices who voted to do so. ...” Read more

The Cotton Gin: A Game-Changing Social and Economic Invention

by NCC Staff | Read time: 3 minutes

“On March 14, 1794, young inventor Eli Whitney had his U.S. patent for the cotton gin approved, an invention that would have a great impact on social and economic conditions that led to the Civil War. ...” Read more

A Tale of a Giant Cheese, a Loaf of Bread, and the First Amendment

March 26 marks an interesting anniversary—the first known appearance of a huge loaf of bread at the White House, as a tribute to an equally giant, politically charged cheese wheel that symbolized the First Amendment. Read more on the Constitution Daily blog

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

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 by clicking the Update Profile link below to subscribe to other National Constitution Center newsletters and manage how often you hear from us.