Why the First Amendment Matters Today

Run time: 1 hour 26 minutes

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, former judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum; and Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, follows.

You can listen to the full program on our We the People and Live at the National Constitution Center podcasts, or read Jeffrey Rosen’s full dedication remarks on our Constitution Daily blog.

We the People and Live at the National Constitution Center are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more

A Short List of Overturned Supreme Court Landmark Decisions

by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 6 minutes

"With speculation growing about the Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade, a look back at overturned landmark cases shows the rarity of such actions. ..." Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court Cases Built on a “Rotten Foundation”

by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 4 minutes

"The U.S. Supreme Court has a number of old decisions that the justices no longer apply because time and the nation’s understanding of constitutional principles such as due process and equal protection have eroded the foundations of those decisions. ..." Read more

Elon Musk Is Right That Twitter Should Follow the First Amendment

National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen writes that Elon Musk, in his effort to buy Twitter, has signaled that under his ownership the company would allow all speech that the First Amendment protects. Read more on The Atlantic

The First Amendment 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Read Interpretations on the Interactive Constitution

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.  

Connect with us

Update your email preferences by clicking the Update Profile link below to subscribe to other National Constitution Center newsletters and manage how often you hear from us.