The Intellectual Inspirations Behind the Constitution

Run time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Explore the National Constitution Center's new Founders’ Library. Read primary texts that span American constitutional history—from the philosophical works that influenced the Founding generation, to the most important speeches, essays, books, pamphlets, petitions, letters, court cases, landmark statutes, and state constitutions that have shaped the American constitutional tradition. Two scholars who helped choose the sources in the library, Paul Rahe and Jonathan Gienapp, discuss some of the early texts. Listen now

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The Name “United States of America” Becomes Official

by NCC Staff | Read time: 3 minutes

"On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted a new name for what had been called the "United Colonies.” The moniker United States of America has remained since then as a symbol of freedom and independence. ..." Read more

The Nixon Pardon in Constitutional Retrospect

by NCC Staff | Read time: 5 minutes

"President Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon on September 8, 1974, generated a national controversy, but in recent years, some of the pardon’s biggest critics have changed their tunes on the unprecedented move. ..." Read more

We just announced new programming for this season of America’s Town Hall, our series of public programs. Register to join us in person or for the livestream, or check out recorded programs, available on our website and YouTube channel. 

Originalism: A Matter of Interpretation

Friday, September 16 | 2 p.m. ET

Should the U.S. Constitution be interpreted according to its original meaning? Is the Supreme Court consistent in its application of constitutional originalism? In celebration of Constitution Day 2022, join us for a keynote conversation at the National Constitution Center with Emily Bazelon, staff writer at the New York Times Magazine; Rich Lowry, editor-in-chief of National Review; Steven Mazie of The Economist; and others, exploring one of the most important constitutional topics of our time. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution, moderates. 

This program is presented in partnership with the National Review Institute. 

The NCC’s Constitutional Convention Reports: The Proposed Amendments

Monday, September 19 | 12 p.m. ET

Join the National Constitution Center as our Constitution Drafting Project teams propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This summer, our conservative, progressive, and libertarian teams of America’s leading legal scholars convened for a virtual constitutional convention to draft and propose a series of amendments to the Constitution. Join team leaders Caroline Fredrickson of team progressive, Ilya Shapiro of team libertarian, and Ilan Wurman of team conservative as they present and discuss the amendments that all three teams adopted. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

This program is presented in conjunction with the National Constitution Center's Constitution Drafting Project. 

Article IV, Section 4 

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence."

Read Interpretations on the Interactive Constitution

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