Debate at America’s Town Hall
| |
My Fellow Americans: Presidents and Their Inaugural Addresses
Tuesday, January 21 | Noon ET
The day after the 2025 presidential inauguration, join leading presidential historians and contributors to the recently published compendium, My Fellow Americans: Presidents and Their Inaugural Addresses, Michael Gerhardt, Kate Masur, and Ted Widmer, as they reflect on inaugural addresses throughout history and how they relate to a president’s legacy. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more
| |
Reconstruction and the Constitution: A Historical Perspective
Monday, February 10 | 9:45–11:45 a.m. ET
The National Constitution Center and the Federal Judicial Center convene leading historians for conversations on Reconstruction and the Constitution. Pamela Brandwein of the University of Michigan, Sherrilyn Ifill of Howard University School of Law, and Ilan Wurman of the University of Minnesota Law School will explore the 14th Amendment and the history of Reconstruction. Martha Jones of Johns Hopkins University, Kate Masur of Northwestern University, and Dylan Penningroth of the University of California, Berkeley, will delve into the broader legal and social effects of Reconstruction beyond the amendments. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more
| |
This program is presented in partnership with the Federal Judicial Center. | |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day With Free Admission
Monday, January 20 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
The National Constitution Center honors Martin Luther King Jr.’s lifelong dedication to justice, equality, and service for the greater good with special programming and free admission to the museum on Monday, January 20. Learn more
On-site Activities Include:
- School Supplies Drive: Donations of newly purchased school supplies, including as pens, pencils, crayons, copy paper, hand sanitizer, and folders, as well as age-appropriate books, can be dropped off at the Center throughout January, and will be donated to the School District of Philadelphia.
- Arts and crafts
- Artifact Spotlight: March on Washington Pennant
- Family Concert: Songs Inspired by the Civil Rights Era
- and more!
| |
Learn About the Constitution | |
Resources to Learn About Martin Luther King Jr.
First Amendment: The Power of Protests
Tuesday, January 14 | Noon ET
Join us for a virtual tour of the National Constitution Center’s newest gallery, The First Amendment. Protecting some of our most cherished freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—the First Amendment is a pillar of democracy and the American way of life. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the program will highlight the power of the freedom of assembly and how King and other civil rights leaders used this right to fight for equality under the law.
| |
|
Watch: The Civil Rights Movement With Hasan Kwame Jeffries
In this previously recorded live class, Hasan Kwame Jeffries, associate professor of history at The Ohio State University, joins Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, to explore the Civil Rights Movement. Watch now
Read: 10 Fascinating Facts About the “I Have A Dream” Speech
“It was on August 28, 1963, that Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech as part of the March on Washington. So how much do you know about the speech and the events that led up to it?. ...” Read more
Explore our extensive library of educational resources including videos, explore primary source documents, classroom activities, and more.
| |
The Life and Constitutional Legacy of Gouverneur Morris
Run time: 56 minutes
Melanie Randolph Miller, Dennis Rasmussen, and William Treanor explore the fantastic life and constitutional legacy of Gouverneur Morris: Founding Father, key member of the Committee of Style, and opponent of slavery. Watch now
| |
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
| |
The Future of TikTok
Run time: 58 minutes
Jameel Jaffer and Zephyr Teachout join Jeffrey Rosen to discuss TikTok v. Garland and debate whether the law that forces TikTok to be sold or banned violates the First Amendment. Listen now
The Meese Revolution
Run time: 52 minutes
Steven Calabresi joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss his new book, The Meese Revolution: The Making of a Constitutional Moment. Calabresi reviews former Attorney General Edwin Meese’s instrumental role in the rise of originalism, and credits Meese with transforming the Department of Justice into an “academy in exile” where originalism was developed and put into practice. Listen now
Can Tennessee Ban Medical Transitions for Transgender Minors?
Run time: 1 hour
Professor Kurt Lash and David Gans join Jeffrey Rosen to debate whether the Tennessee law that prohibits transgender minors from receiving gender transition surgery and hormone therapy violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Listen now
| |
The Constitution and the Postal Service
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 4 minutes
“President-elect Donald Trump has revived talk from his previous term of moving to privatize the United States Postal Service. To be sure, such a process would be complicated and would likely require an act of Congress. ...” Read more
Revisiting the Birthright Citizenship Question and the Constitution
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes
“In recent public comments, President-elect Donald J. Trump repeated past remarks about seeking to revoke the citizenship status of children born in the United States to non-citizen parents. ...” Read more
The Supreme Court Questions Law on Gender Affirming Care for Teenagers
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes
“A divided Supreme Court on Dec. 4, 2024, considered one of the highest profile cases in its current term, leaving perhaps more questions than answers about how it will decide if a state can regulate gender-affirming health care for teenagers. ...” 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.
| |
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. | | | | |
