Filmmaker Ken Burns and historian Erica Armstrong Dunbar recently joined us for a discussion of Benjamin Franklin, a new documentary exploring the life of the scientist, inventor, diplomat, and signer of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Watch now | |
Debate at America's Town Hall
| |
America’s Early Justices and How They Shaped the Supreme Court
Tuesday, April 19 | 7 p.m. ET
Historians and biographers provide a historical look at some of America’s earliest justices—from John Jay, the country’s first Supreme Court chief justice, to more forgotten figures like George Washington’s nephew Bushrod Washington and Pennsylvania Founding Father and member of the original six-justice Court, James Wilson. Join Gerard Magliocca, author of Washington’s Heir: The Life of Justice Bushrod Washington, Supreme Court historian Maeva Marcus of George Washington University Law School, and Walter Stahr, author of John Jay: Founding Father and Salmon P. Chase: Lincoln’s Vital Rival, as they discuss the impact of these figures on American history and the Court’s legacy. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
| |
Why the First Amendment Matters Today
Monday, May 2 | 5:30 p.m. ET
In celebration of the unveiling of the First Amendment tablet at the National Constitution Center, free speech defenders Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School, Nadine Strossen of New York Law School, and Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education join for a discussion of why the First Amendment matters today. A dedication ceremony with remarks from the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (former); Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum; and Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, follows.
| |
This program is presented in celebration of the newly installed First Amendment tablet at the National Constitution Center donated by the Freedom Forum, which works to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. The design and installation of the tablet was made possible by the Honorable J. Michael Luttig and Elizabeth A. Luttig. Members of the National Constitution Center are invited to join this program in person. For more information, contact [email protected]. | |
Rights, Regulations, and the Modern Administrative State
Tuesday, May 10 | Noon ET
From lawsuits over government-mandated vaccine-or-test requirements to the Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on power plant emissions, there have been several recent legal challenges to the regulatory powers of federal agencies. Debates around the powers of the administrative state, also known as the “fourth branch,” have existed since its origins. Join Lisa Heinzerling of Georgetown University Law Center, Ilan Wurman of Arizona State University Law, and William J. Novak, author of New Democracy: The Creation of the Modern American State, for a conversation exploring the rise of the administrative state, current cases about the scope of its power, and its future. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution, moderates.
| |
Learn About the Constitution | |
Founding Documents and Landmark Court Case Review | |
|
AP Founding Documents
Week of April 18
Review America’s founding documents! This class will help learners understand these essential documents better—including their fundamental ideas and the major principles underlying the U.S. Constitution.
AP Landmark Court Case Review
Week of April 25
Learners will review 15 key Supreme Court cases including McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), and more.
| |
Schedule a Virtual Tour This Spring | |
|
Virtual tours of the National Constitution Center are a great way for audiences to visit the museum and explore the Center’s unique artifacts and signature exhibits. Our education team is well-versed in engaging learners of all ages, creating meaningful experiences for everyone from elementary school to lifelong learners.
| |
Book an interactive tour of:
- The Story of We the People
- Signers' Hall
- Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality
- The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote
| |
Joint Ticket With the Museum of the American Revolution
Get the whole story! Two premier museums inspired by world-changing documents are accessible by one convenient ticket. Together, Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution and the National Constitution Center offer visitors a joint ticket that includes admission to both museums for a discounted price. Joint tickets are available online or in-person at both museums. Adult joint tickets are available for $29 (savings of $6.50), youth tickets for $19 (savings of $5), and family packs (2 adults and 2 kids) for $90 (savings of $22).
| |
Spring Break Programming
April 13 – 24, 2022
Don’t take a break from learning this spring break—head to the National Constitution Center for engaging programs and activities!
Take a look back at the past 235 years of constitutional history, from delegates at the Constitutional Convention, to the abolitionists and suffragists who fought for the rights of all Americans. During spring break, visitors to the National Constitution Center can explore how “We the People” have truly shaped our nation’s history, making our Constitution more inclusive.
| |
The National Constitution Center is welcoming visitors in accordance with local, state, and federal health agencies. Beginning April 18, 2022, masks will be required for all visitors over the age of 2. For more information, see Our Commitment to Health and Safety. | |
Elections, Speech, and Political Disinformation
America's Town Hall | Run time: 54 minutes
Richard L. Hasen, Sarah Isgur, and Catherine Ross discuss the leading proposals to combat election disinformation and if are they consistent with the First Amendment. Watch now
| |
Adams, Jefferson, and the Turbulent Election of 1800
America's Town Hall | Run time: 58 minutes
Presidential historians Lindsay Chervinsky and Edward Larson discuss the election of 1800, one of the most contentious and partisan elections in U.S. history, and what we can learn from it. Watch now
| |
Putin’s War and International Law
We the People podcast | Run time: 51 minutes
International law experts Philippe Sands and Ryan Goodman join host Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the possibilities and limitations of international law in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Listen now
| |
The Confirmation Hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
We the People podcast | Run time: 57 minutes
Lisa Tucker and Melissa Murray join host Jeffrey Rosen to recap the hearings on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. Listen now
| |
10 Facts About Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination
Constitution Daily blog | Read time: 4 minutes
"It was on April 14, 1865, that President Abraham Lincoln was shot while watching a play at Ford’s Theater. Lincoln died the next morning, and in the aftermath, some odd facts seemed to pop up. ..." Read more
10 Facts About Thomas Jefferson for His Birthday
Constitution Daily blog | Read time: 3 minutes
"On the occasion of Thomas Jefferson's birthday, April 13, we have 10 interesting facts about the versatile Founding Father. ..." Read more
| |
|
Support the Center
Your generous support enables the National Constitution Center to thrive as America’s leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue.
| |
Update your email preferences using the Update Profile link below to subscribe to other National Constitution Center newsletters and manage how often you hear from us. | | | | |
