2021: A Constitutional Year in Review

Run time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Host Jeffrey Rosen is joined by Adam Liptak and Jennifer Mascott to look back on the events of 2021, including the January 6 riot at the U.S Capitol, key Supreme Court cases, and the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Listen now

The Meaning of Equality in America

Run time: 59 minutes

William Allen, Erika Bachiochi, Ellen Carol DuBois, and Jack Rakove, explore the idea of equality throughout American history. Jeffrey Rosen moderates. Listen now

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On This Day, the Louisiana Purchase is Completed

by NCC Staff | Read time: 2 minutes

Life in the newly formed United States changed forever on December 20, 1803, when the American flag flew over New Orleans, signifying the completion of the Louisiana Purchase and doubling the country’s size. … Read more

How Thomas Paine’s Other Pamphlet Saved the Revolution

by NCC Staff | Read time: 3 minutes

The publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense caused a sensation in early 1776 as it explained the need for freedom. But it was a second series of pamphlets published on December 19 of that year that inspired a huge American military victory. … Read more

Author Clint Smith joins President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion on slavery in America, a topic Smith explores in his new book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America. Smith also discusses his career as a writer, poet, and educator. Watch now

The 12th Amendment

"The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate: ..."

Read Interpretations on the Interactive Constitution

Constitution Weekly is taking a holiday break but will be back Saturday, January 8. In the meantime, please catch up on all of our programming from 2021 in our media library. Happy holidays!

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