The 37th annual Liberty Medal will be awarded to the beloved Broadway hit, Hamilton, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, and the acclaimed historian and biographer, Ron Chernow, whose book inspired the musical. The Liberty Medal ceremony will take place on October 17, 2025, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Learn more and buy tickets | |
Red, White, & Blue To-Do
Wednesday, July 2 | 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Join the National Constitution Center and partners from Philadelphia’s Historic District for the second annual Red, White, & Blue To-Do on July 2, which will take place throughout America’s most historic square mile with a Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, festooned decor, concerts, games, extended visitation hours at area historic attractions, restaurant specials, and much more. Learn more about Red, White, and Blue To-Do
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Pomp & Parade
Wednesday, July 2 | 11 a.m.
Philadelphia Historic District partners are thrilled to invite community members to participate in the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade! We encourage all participants to dress in festive clothing of red, white, and blue, carry flags or other fun flair, and come ready to smile, wave, sing, dance, or otherwise show off your patriotic spirit as we process through the Historic District.
The parade begins on July 2 at 11 a.m. at the National Constitution Center, and will conclude around noon at 3rd and Chestnut Streets. Participation is free, advance registration is required.
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Taste of History Trivia Night
Wednesday, July 2 | 5–7 p.m.
Free admission
Join us for a night of food, friends, and of course, history. Grab a bite, explore exhibits, and show off your trivia skills in the birthplace of American democracy. We’ll have free food, games, exhibit tours, and a trivia contest with prizes, presented in partnership with Made By Us.
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Independence Day
Friday, July 4 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission courtesy of Citizen Travelers
The National Constitution Center celebrates Independence Day by offering free museum admission to all visitors on July 4, courtesy of Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.
Attend the interactive Independence Day show, participate in American flag history and etiquette workshops, create Colonial-era crafts, and stop by the Revolutionary War encampment on the museum’s Front Lawn. Learn more about Independence Day
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Debate at America’s Town Hall
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IN PERSON AND ONLINE
2025 Supreme Court Review: Key Rulings, Public Perceptions, and Constitutional Debates
Tuesday, July 8
Reception: 5–5:45 p.m.; Program: 5:45–8 p.m. ET
The National Constitution Center and the Center on the Structural Constitution at Texas A&M University School of Law present a U.S. Supreme Court review symposium featuring leading constitutional law scholars and commentators who will analyze the Court’s most significant rulings of the term. Participants include Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal, Jan Crawford of CBS News, Daniel Epps of Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Sarah Isgur of The Dispatch, Frederick Lawrence of Georgetown University Law Center, Fred Smith Jr. of Emory University School of Law, Stephen Vladeck of Georgetown University Law Center, Daniel Walters of Texas A&M University School of Law, and Keith Whittington of Yale Law School. In addition to discussing recent decisions, panelists will explore the role of the media, the president, and other political actors in shaping public perceptions of the Court. Moderators include Katherine Mims Crocker of Texas A&M University School of Law, Neil Siegel of Duke Law School, and Jeffrey Rosen of the National Constitution Center. Learn more
| | This program is presented in partnership with the Center on the Structural Constitution at Texas A&M University School of Law. | | Learn About the Constitution | |
Keep Up the Constitutional Learning This Summer
Celebrate summer civic holidays by searching the National Constitution Center’s Classroom Resources Library for fun activities, crafts, and more! Learners of all ages can explore resources on the history of Independence Day and how the definition of “We, the People” has expanded since 1776. Browse the library
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Executive Authority: Presidential Power From America’s Founding to Today
Run time: 58 minutes
Legal scholars Gillian Metzger and Saikrishna Prakash examine the founders’ vision for the presidency, how presidential power has changed over time, and the key constitutional debates that have shaped the modern presidency. The discussion will also explore how the Trump presidency fits within this historical context and what it means for the future of presidential power. Watch now
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W.E.B. Du Bois and His Impact on America With David Levering Lewis
Run time: 47 minutes
In celebration of Juneteenth, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David Levering Lewis, author of the definitive two-volume biography of W.E.B. Du Bois, explores Du Bois’ life, legacy, and enduring impact on American history, while also discussing his own new memoir, The Stained Glass Window. Watch now
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Can President Trump Federalize the California National Guard?
Run time: 57 minutes
On June 7, President Trump asserted control over California’s National Guard. In this episode, Professor Michael Ramsey and Liza Goitein join Jeffrey Rosen to explore the meaning of 10 U.S.C. 12406 and unpack California Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit challenging the legality of President Trump’s actions. Listen now
Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation
Run time: 58 minutes
Charles Sumner was an abolitionist senator who helped to write the post-Civil War Constitution and give birth to modern civil rights law. Zaakir Tameez, author of the new biography Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss Sumner as a moral thinker, political activist, and constitutional visionary. Listen now
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Is the Supreme Court’s silence failing to turn “square corners” in immigration cases?
by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 6 minutes
“In a 1920 Supreme Court decision, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote that “men must turn square corners when they deal with the Government.” In a 2020 Supreme Court decision, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “But it is also true, particularly when so much is at stake, that ‘the Government should turn square corners in dealing with the people.’” …” Read more
After Supreme Court decision, states become primary battlefield for transgender rights
by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 4 minutes
“By leaving the “wisdom” and “fairness” of transgender minors’ health care to “the people, their elected representatives, and the democratic process,” the Supreme Court’s conservative majority, in a decision starkly reminiscent of its 2022 overruling of Roe v. Wade, left in place a long and difficult legal path forward for advocates of transgender rights. …” Read more
Does the president need Congress to approve military actions in Iran?
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes
“The current military conflict between Iran and Israel has led to speculation about the involvement of American military resources in the region and revived a debate about when Congress needs to approve such actions when taken by the president. …” Read more
| | Our 2024 Annual Report is now available. Look back with us on highlights from a memorable milestone year, and preview what’s ahead for the Center as we prepare for America’s 250th birthday. Read the report | | |
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