Constitution in the Headlines: Amending the Constitution and Article V

The latest edition of Constitution in the Headlines helps educators connect a high-profile civic moment to enduring constitutional principles, including separation of powers, political norms, and Article II authority.

This resource centers on a big constitutional question: How does Article V balance stability with the need for change? Using renewed attention to calls for an Article V convention—including a recent resolution considered by the Idaho House of Representatives—students explore how Americans can change the Constitution, why the convention method has never been used, and what risks and opportunities it presents.

Students engage with expert perspectives from leading constitutional scholars Gerard Magliocca, Sanford Levinson, Michael Rappaport, and Stephen Sachs as part of the National Constitution Center’s Article V Project, moderated by Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center. Through video clips, primary source excerpts, and scholarly essays, students examine competing views on limited versus open conventions, popular sovereignty, and the practical challenges of constitutional reform.

What’s included:

• Headline story examining the amendment process and the modern debate over Article V conventions
• Scholarly perspectives highlighting tensions between democratic change and constitutional stability
• Close reading of Article V: The Amendment Process
• Classroom-ready discussion questions and student choice activities, including infographics, comparative analysis, and civil dialogue protocols

Help your students see how constitutional theory becomes constitutional practice—and why debates over amending the Constitution remain as urgent today as they were in 1787.

Celebrate with the NCC

Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Make this Valentine’s Day hotter than a constitutional debate. The big day is just one week away—celebrate with these free, printable Constitution-Themed valentines, and encourage your colleagues and students to share them with friends! Then show us how you use them on social by tagging @ConstitutionCtr and #NCCEd.

Professional Learning Opportunities

Monthly Virtual Session: Natural Rights

Wednesday, February 18 | 6:30–8 p.m. ET

Participants will consider the influence Enlightenment thinkers had on the founders and how these principles manifest in several founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Join us as Adam Seagrave, from Arizona State University, takes a closer look into the text of these documents and examines the philosophical context in which these texts were written. Kevin Cline, a member of the Center’s Teacher Advisory Council, will demonstrate how the Center’s resources on natural rights can be implemented for classroom use.

From Our Partners

National Forum

Civic Learning Week

Join educators, scholars, and civic leaders in Philadelphia for the Civic Learning Week National Forum: Liberty and Learning—Civic Education at 250, taking place March 9–10, 2026.

This two-day forum will explore the essential role of civic education in sustaining constitutional democracy, fostering civil dialogue, and preparing the next generation for informed participation. In-person and livestream registration options are now open with sales ending February 27. Register now

Webinar Series

National History Day

NHD is offering 120 educators the opportunity to join Revolutionary Ideals: Understanding 250 Years of American Principles, a new webinar series developed with the American Historical Association and running from April 2026 to March 2027.

The program guarantees at least two spots per NHD affiliate and offers participants 90 free professional development hours or three graduate extension credits from the University of San Diego. Apply now

Upcoming Events at the NCC

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

Monday, February 9 | Noon ET

Gary Berton, the president of The Thomas Paine Historical Association, joins Scott Cleary, co-editor of New Direction in Thomas Paine Studies and author of The Field of Imagination: Thomas Paine and Eighteenth-Century Poetry, to discuss the revolutionary life, ideas, and legacy of Thomas Paine in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

🗓️ Live From the Museum: First Look at the America’s Founding Gallery

Tuesday, February 17 | Noon ET

Join a museum educator for a first look at the National Constitution Center’s newest exhibit! The America’s Founding gallery tells the story of the nation’s founding principles, exploring how we declared independence, fought a revolution, learned from early challenges, and ultimately developed a new form of government.

🗓️ The Declaration at 250: Examining the Historical and Contemporary Relevance of the Grievance Section

Friday, February 27 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Journal of Constitutional Law in partnership with the National Constitution Center present a symposium that will explore the historical and contemporary relevance of the grievance section of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates a panel on the legislative power of the purse. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates a conversation with Jack Rakove, professor of history, Stanford University. The symposium also features scholars from the Center’s Interactive Declaration of Independence, including Rosemarie Zagarri, George Mason University, and Akhil Reed Amar, Yale Law School. The symposium will take place in person at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and virtually via Zoom.

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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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