The 36th annual Liberty Medal will be awarded to America’s storyteller, Ken Burns, for illuminating the nation’s greatest triumphs and tragedies and inspiring all of us to learn about the principles at the heart of the American idea. The National Constitution Center will honor the renowned documentary filmmaker at a ceremony overlooking Independence Mall on September 24, 2024. Learn more about individual tickets and sponsorship opportunities

Debate at America’s Town Hall

IN PERSON AND ONLINE

‘The Highest Calling’: A Conversation With David Rubenstein on the American Presidency

Thursday, September 12 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET 

Join best-selling author, philanthropist, and National Constitution Center Trustee David Rubenstein for a program discussing his new book, The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency. The book features interviews with living American presidents and top historians and journalists who reflect on the U.S. presidency, the political genius and frays of the presidential role, and the wisdom that emerges from it. Learn more

A book sale and signing with David Rubenstein will follow the discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m.

IN PERSON AND ONLINE

Justice Neil Gorsuch on ‘Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law’

Tuesday, September 17 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET 

Join us for a conversation with the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and NCC honorary co-chair, in celebration of Constitution Day 2024 and the release of his latest book, Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law. Learn more

A book sale and signing with Justice Gorsuch will follow the discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Constitution Day Celebration

Tuesday, September 17 | 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! Learn more

The Center’s annual Constitution Day celebration takes place on Tuesday, September 17, with free admission courtesy of PECO.

Resources to Celebrate Constitution Day Any Time

Watch

The nine units of the new Constitution 101 student course with Khan Academy include videos featuring the nation’s leading constitutional scholars from diverse political philosophies sharing canonical stories about the Constitution, discussing landmark Supreme Court cases, and exploring some of the most important constitutional debates facing the nation today. 

Listen

On this episode of the We the People podcast, host Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen is joined by special guest scholars to explore the intellectual inspirations behind the Constitution.

Quiz

Test how much you know about the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.

Create

Our DIY Preamble Scramble puzzle is great for young learners.

Find a full list of Constitution Day resources on our website.

LISTEN

Can the Attorney General Appoint a Special Counsel?

Run time: 54 minutes

In July, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed a criminal case against former President Donald Trump reasoning that the prosecutor in this case was not properly appointed by the Justice Department. Matthew Seligman and Josh Blackman, who argued before Judge Cannon on opposite sides of this issue, join Jeffrey Rosen to debate the legal basis for the special counsel role. Listen now

The State of the American Idea

Run time: 52 minutes

Charles Cooke, Melody Barnes, and Sean Wilentz explore the debate about the core values of the American idea—liberty, equality, democracy, and federalism—throughout American history and model the way in which Americans of different perspectives can come together in the spirit of civil dialogue. Listen now

READ

A Brief History of Presidential Candidate Debates

by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes

“Debates between presidential candidates have become an important part of the election process every four years, but in historical terms, these events are relatively new. ...” Read more

A Constitution ‘Hard, But Not That Hard’ to Change

by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 5 minutes

“Ten years ago in a public conversation, journalist Marvin Kalb asked the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia what he would do if he could change the U.S. Constitution. Scalia replied that he would make the Constitution easier to change. ...” Read more

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