A Constitutional Look at Native Sovereignty and Citizenship

Help your students uncover one of the most vital—and often overlooked—threads in American constitutional history: the fight for Native sovereignty and the meaning of citizenship. The newest edition of Constitution in the Headlines draws on the National Constitution Center's recent America's Town Hall program with historian Kathleen DuVal to illuminate how Native nations asserted self-government, navigated federal power, and fought for constitutional equality across the 19th and 20th centuries.

This edition of Constitution in the Headlines includes:

• Headline story featuring Kathleen DuVal on Cherokee sovereignty and the evolution of Native citizenship.
• Scholarly perspectives highlighting constitutional questions about nationhood, identity, and equality.
• Primary sources including Worcester v. Georgia, the Indian Removal Act, and the Indian Citizenship Act.
• Classroom activities for discussion, primary source analysis, and creative student choice.
• Extended learning with podcasts, Interactive Constitution entries, and Founders’ Library texts.

Give students the tools to connect constitutional principles—like sovereignty, citizenship, and equality—to real historical struggles and lived experiences. This new resource helps classrooms grapple with essential questions at the heart of American history.

New NCC Podcast Episodes

Can President Trump Fire a Federal Trade Commissioner Without Cause?

Run time: 1 hour, 7 minutes

Thomas Berry of the Cato Institute and Jed Shugerman of the Boston University School of Law join the recap the oral arguments from Trump v. Slaughter and debate whether the statutory removal protections for members of the Federal Trade Commission violate the separation of powers. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Listen now

Amending the Constitution and the Article V Project

Run time: 58 minutes

The National Constitution Center launches our Article V Project, a new initiative examining the founders’ vision for Article V and an historical look at the use of the Article V process from 1789 to the present. Project contributors and constitutional law scholars Gerard Magliocca, Sanford Levinson, Michael Rappaport, and Stephen Sachs explore the origins, debates, and ongoing challenges surrounding Article V, as presented in their new essays. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. The Article V Project was made possible with the support of Democracy Restated. Listen now

Summer Educator Programs at the NCC

Applications are open for the National Constitution Center’s 2026 summer educator programs, including the Educator Institutes and the weeklong Summer Intensive. These residential learning experiences bring together teachers from across the country to explore constitutional ideas, strengthen instructional practice, and build professional community against the inspiring backdrop of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Programs are designed for educators in grades 5–12, are free to attend, and include stipends to help offset travel and lodging costs.

Across June and July, participants will engage with constitutional scholars, legal experts, and historians; explore the National Constitution Center’s exhibitions; and visit cultural institutions and historic sites throughout Old City. Each program offers rich opportunities to deepen content knowledge and gather fresh ideas for the classroom.

Applications for all summer programs are due January 23, with notifications shared by February 20.

You’re Invited: Events in December and January

🗓️ Monthly Virtual Session: First Amendment

Wednesday, December 17 | 6:30-8 p.m. ET

During this session, participants will learn about the text and history of the First Amendment, and how the First Amendment is considered today. Join us as our scholar examines historical and modern interpretations of the First Amendment. A member of the Center’s teacher network will share classroom-ready resources on the First Amendment and the amendment process.

🗓️ Special Event: Bill of Rights Trivia Night

Saturday, December 27 | 4:15-6:30 p.m. ET
In person

Celebrate the season and the Bill of Rights! Join us for an evening of historically themed Quizzo with prizes for the top three teams. Admission and entry to the trivia contest are free, and complimentary food will be available from 4:15–6:30 p.m. You can also enjoy the museum’s galleries, including Signers’ Hall, The 19th Amendment, and Civil War and Reconstruction. Beginning at 5 p.m., a cash bar will be available for guests over 21.

🗓️ Town Hall: Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense

Wednesday, January 7 | 12-1 p.m. ET

Gary Berton, the president of The Thomas Paine Historical Association, joins award-winning historian Jack Kelly, author of Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder of Our Time, to discuss the revolutionary life, ideas, and legacy of Thomas Paine in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. Jeffrey Rosen moderates.

🗓️ Town Hall: The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution

Tuesday, January 20 | 12-1 p.m. ET

Legal scholar William Ewald joins Jesse Wegman of The New York Times to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the influence and legacy of forgotten founder and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson. Jeffrey Rosen 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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