Part lecture and part lively conversation, these weekly classes are accessible to the public so that students, teachers, and parents can join in a constitutional discussion with National Constitution Center scholars—including President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, Chief Learning Officer Kerry Sautner, and Senior Fellow for Constitutional Studies Thomas Donnelly—on core topics such as the branches of government, landmark court cases, civil rights, First Amendment’s freedoms of speech and press and the Fourth Amendment’s search and seizure.
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In this session, students will examine the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution, and the methods scholars use to interpret it. By examining primary sources, students use historical thinking skills and explore what the government may and may not do based on past examples. The session will conclude by introducing civil dialogue skills as we channel our inner-Louis Brandeis who famously remarked, “Come let us reason together!”
With Philip Bobbitt, Constitutional Law Professor at Columbia Law School
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In this session, students will examine the form of government established by the Constitution, and its key ideas—including natural rights, the rule of law, and popular sovereignty. By examining the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, students will learn how these two documents set the foundation for American democracy and make possible the freedom that is the birthright of all Americans.
With Akhil Reed Amar
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Did you miss last week's sessions?
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Explore the schedule for the entire school year and register for upcoming sessions here. |
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Scholar Exchanges: Peer-to-Peer
Interested in scheduling a session for your class and other classes nationwide? The peer-to-peer Scholar Exchanges promote deeper understandings and enhance opportunities for civil discourse and discussion. Sessions will be offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays each week from September 2021 – May 2022. Learn more about those sessions, and register for a future session, here. |
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Applications for the fall cohort of the Teacher Advisory Council are now open! We are looking for members of the classroom education field to join our Teacher Advisory Council. The council is open to educators who teach fifth grade to college level students from all types of school environments and locations. Members are asked to:
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Participate in monthly online meetings and virtual student programs, such as Scholar Exchanges.
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Advise the Center’s education team on new and additional resources that will best support teachers and students nationwide.
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Advocate on behalf of the Center through social media posts, regional professional networks, and professional development workshops.
Members of the advisory council will have a voice in shaping our free online classes, and will receive a yearly stipend for their valuable time and professional advice. They can also join in our professional development opportunities that include prominent scholars and judges.
Applications close Monday, October 4.
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This episode dives into what happened after the Constitution was signed—when it had to be approved by “we the people,” a process known as ratification—and the arguments made on behalf of the Constitution. A major collection of those arguments came in the form of a series of essays, today often referred to as The Federalist Papers, which were written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay using the pen name Publius and published initially in newspapers in New York. Guests Judge Gregory Maggs, author of the article “A Concise Guide to The Federalist Papers as a Source of the Original Meaning of the United States Constitution,” and Colleen Sheehan, professor and co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to The Federalist, shed light on the questions: What do The Federalist Papers say? What did their writers set out to achieve by writing them? How do they explain the ideas behind the Constitution’s structure and design—and where did those ideas come from? And why is it important to read The Federalist Papers today?
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The National Constitution Center's education team is here to help with any of our online resources. Email [email protected] with questions or comments on how we can help you and your students with your remote learning needs.
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