Constitution in the Headlines

Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Appointments Clause

Elon Musk and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been freezing federal spending and laying off federal employees, raising constitutional questions about the scope of its power. At the heart of the debate is the Appointments Clause in Article II of the Constitution.  

Find ready-to-use, nonpartisan classroom resources on the topic, including engagement questions, student choice activities, and related primary sources.

Teach About the Judicial System

Explore Module 9: The Judicial System and Current Case in our Constitution 101 teacher-led curriculum and find a scope and sequence on Article III that includes activities, downloadable worksheets, and primary sources to cover to following learning objectives:

• Judicial review as a key component of the American constitutional system
• Judicial independence and why the founding generation viewed it as an important feature of the federal judiciary
• Primary source writings on the Supreme Court in Federalist No. 78
• How a case gets to the Supreme Court
• How the judicial nomination process works and how a justice ends up on the Supreme Court

Looking for more in-depth support in developing lesson plans on the judicial branch and workshopping with peers? Attend our free virtual Monthly Professional Learning Session on Article III on Wednesday, April 16 from 6:30-8 p.m. ET.

New Constitution Daily Blogs

Was Cory Booker’s speech a filibuster?

“On April 1, 2025, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey set a record for making the longest speaking appearance on the Senate floor. But Booker’s effort did not likely qualify as a “filibuster,” one of the chamber’s unique traditions of attempting to block or delay a vote by not allowing debate on it to end.” Read more

How Congress delegates its tariff powers to the president

“President Donald Trump is expected to announce wide-sweeping tariffs on Wednesday, in a move with potentially broad consequences. So how does the president have the ability to levy tariffs under the Constitution?” Read more

You’re Invited: April Events

🗓️ America’s Town Hall: The Day the Revolution Began: Lexington and Concord at 250

Online | Tuesday, April 15 | Noon ET

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, historians Rick Atkinson, Mary Beth Norton, and Rosemarie Zagarri explore the events leading to the first shots of the American Revolution, the battles themselves, and the colonists’ response to this pivotal moment in history.

🗓️ America’s Town Hall: The Future of Birthright Citizenship: A Constitutional Debate

Online | Thursday, April 24 | Noon ET

President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship has reignited debates over the 14th Amendment and the meaning of citizenship in America. Join legal experts Amanda Frost of the University of Virginia School of Law, Ilan Wurman of the University of Minnesota Law School, and John Yoo of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law as they analyze the legal challenges surrounding birthright citizenship, explore the constitutional and historical arguments on all sides of this debate, and discuss its broader implications for immigration. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

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About the National Constitution Center’s Educational Resources 

The National Constitution Center provides K-12 curriculum, professional learning, and student programs that make constitutional education engaging and relevant. Learn more at: constitutioncenter.org/education.

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