Debate at America’s Town Hall
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The Life and Constitutional Legacy of Gouverneur Morris
Thursday, December 12 | Noon ET
Dennis Rasmussen, author of The Constitution’s Penman: Gouverneur Morris and the Creation of America’s Basic Charter; Melanie Randolph Miller, author of An Incautious Man: The Life of Gouverneur Morris; and William Treanor, dean of Georgetown Law explore the fantastic life and constitutional legacy of Gouverneur Morris: Founding Father, key member of the Committee of Style, and opponent of slavery. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more
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Bill of Rights Day
Sunday, December 15 | 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Free admission and extended museum hours
Join us on the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, Sunday, December 15, to celebrate the freedoms and liberties enshrined in the first 10 amendments. Admission on Bill of Rights Day is free and the museum is open for extended hours, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Learn more
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Bill of Rights Trivia Night
5–7 p.m.
It’s trivia night! Grab a bite, explore exhibits, and show off your trivia skills. The night includes free food, games, exhibit tours, and a trivia contest with prizes. Cash bar available from 5–6:30 p.m.
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Countdown to the New Year
Wednesday, December 18–Sunday, December 29
Visit the National Constitution Center for special activities and fun for the whole family! Join us we count down to the new year by exploring a different amendment in the Bill of Rights each day. Test your knowledge through interactive programs and trivia, join a gallery talk in our First Amendment gallery, and meet historic figures who used the First Amendment to expand the meaning of “We the People.” Learn more
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Please note: The museum will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. | |
Learn About the Constitution | |
Resources to Celebrate Bill of Rights Day
Signers’ Hall and Constituting Liberty: The Road to the Bill of Rights
Tuesday, December 10 | Noon ET
Join us for a tour of Signers’ Hall, the iconic exhibit featuring life-size statues of the 42 men who gathered in Philadelphia for the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. We will explore the debates over the inclusion of a bill of rights that led a small group of delegates, known as the dissenters, to refuse to sign the Constitution. We’ll learn about what happened next, including the Constitution’s ratification process, and the writing of the Federalist Papers, which finally resulted in the ratification of the first 10 amendments in December 1791. This program highlights some of the famous figures in Signers’ Hall and the rare documents on display in our Constituting Liberty exhibit.
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Browse Bill of Rights resources including museum interactives, primary sources, videos, activities and more. Learn more | |
How Religious Were the Founders?
Run time: 1 hour
Join Jane Calvert, Vincent Phillip Muñoz, and Thomas Kidd for a discussion on religious liberty and the founders. Watch now
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Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn
Run time: 57 minutes
Political historian Christopher Cox, former U.S. congressman and author of the new book, Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn, and Professor Geoffrey Stone explore Wilson’s presidential legacy, constitutional vision, and impact on American democracy. Watch now
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Native Americans and the Supreme Court
Run time: 1 hour
In celebration of Native American Heritage month, Keith Richotte Jr. and Matthew L.M. Fletcher discuss Native American history and law through the stories of landmark Supreme Court cases. Watch now
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The President’s Power to Make Recess Appointments
Run time: 50 minutes
President-elect Donald Trump’s allies have floated the possibility of suspending Congress in order to use the Recess Appointments Clause to install cabinet officials without Senate confirmation. In this episode of We the People, Ed Whelan and Thomas Berry join Jeffrey Rosen to preview this plan and debate its legal merits. Listen now
The Legacy of John Adams
Run time: 1 hour, 22 minutes
In celebration of John Adams’ 289th birthday, Jeffrey Rosen joins a discussion on Adams’ legacy with Danielle Allen and Jane Kamensky. Kurt Graham, president of the Adams Presidential Center, moderates. They explore the constitutional legacy of the Adams family and discuss the importance of resurrecting the Adams family’s tradition of self-mastery and self-improvement to defend the American Idea. Listen now
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Understanding the Constitution’s Recess Appointments Clause
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes
“President-elect Donald Trump’s recent remarks about using recess appointments to name his cabinet nominees has drawn a good deal of media attention. Under the Constitution, the president does have limited powers to make temporary appointments when the Senate is not in session, and he can adjourn the Senate as well, but under highly restricted circumstances. ...” Read more
The One Alien and Sedition Act Still on the Books
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 3 minutes
“Some of the most controversial measures taken by the federal government in its early days were the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. The laws expelled alien residents without due process and censored the free press. ...” Read more
The 22nd Amendment and Presidential Service Beyond Two Terms
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 4 minutes
“With Donald Trump set to serve again as president, there has been talk about his ability to continue in office after his second term expires in four years. While the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment directly restricts Trump’s ability to run for a third term, he possibly could serve in a temporary role under some unusual scenarios....” Read more
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