IN PERSON AND ONLINE

Constitutional Meaning in the Shadow of the Articles of Confederation

Monday, May 12 | 11 a.m.–4:15 p.m. ET

The Brennan Center for Justice and the National Constitution Center present a symposium exploring how the Articles of Confederation shaped the U.S. Constitution. Historians, legal scholars, and journalists—including Aditya Bamzai of the University of Virginia School of Law; Jay Cost of American Enterprise Institute; Jonathan Gienapp of Stanford University; Johann Neem of Western Washington University; Farah Peterson of the University of Chicago School of Law; Jack Rakove of Stanford University; Kermit Roosevelt of University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School; Amanda Shanor of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Ilya Somin of Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University; and Alan Trammell of Washington and Lee University School of Law—will examine the legacy of the Articles of Confederation, the founding debates over federal power, and the lasting influence of these debates on constitutional interpretation today.

Moderators and special guest speakers include NCC President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, Brennan Center President and CEO Michael Waldman, Brennan Center Judiciary Program Director Alicia Bannon, Brennan Center Fellow Wilfred Codrington, Brennan Center Steven M. Polan Fellow in Constitutional Law and History Maureen Edobar, and Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland. Learn more

This program is presented in partnership with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law.

IN PERSON AND ONLINE

Democracy in France and America With Justice Stephen Breyer and Christiane Taubira

Thursday, May 15 | 6:30 p.m. ET

The Honorable Stephen G. Breyer, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (ret.) and National Constitution Center honorary co-chair, joins Christiane Taubira, former French justice minister, for a conversation on democracy, the rule of law, and constitutional traditions from French and American perspectives. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more

This program is presented in partnership with Villa Albertine’s series, Democracy in an Age of Uncertainty: French and American Perspectives. The series is made possible by the generous support of the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation.

Jewish Americans in the Civil War Era

Thursday, May 29 | Noon ET

In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, authors Richard Kreitner (Fear No Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery) and Shari Rabin (The Jewish South: An American History) discuss their new books on the broader Jewish experience from the Revolutionary era to the Civil War, how American Jews reckoned with slavery, Jewish participation in the Civil War, and some of the key American Jews who helped shape this tumultuous era. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more

This program is presented in partnership with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month.

All programs are free—register now!

LISTEN

Subscribe to audio of our programs on Live at the National Constitution Center, and also check out our companion podcast We the People.

WATCH

Interested in a past program? Explore what you’ve missed and subscribe to our YouTube channel for instant updates.

Connect With Us

Interactive Constitution | Constitution Daily blog

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