Originalism: A Matter of Interpretation

Run time: 1 hour

September 17 is Constitution Day in the United States, celebrating the day delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia in 1787. As a part of the National Constitution Center’s 2022 celebrations, Emily Bazelon of the New York Times Magazine, Rich Lowry of National Review, Steven Mazie of The Economist, and Ilan Wurman of Arizona State University, joined host Jeffrey Rosen to discuss whether the Constitution should be interpreted according to its original meaning and if the Supreme Court is consistent in applying principles of originalism in its decisions. Listen now on We the People

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

Top Myths about the Constitution on Constitution Day

by NCC Staff | Read time: 4 minutes

"The Constitution is our most enduring document, but not everything you read online about the Constitution is accurate! ..." Read more

On This Day, the Constitution was Signed in Philadelphia

by NCC Staff | Read time: 4 minutes

"On September 17, 1787, a group of men gathered in a closed meeting room to sign the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. ..." Read more

The National Constitution Center commemorated Constitution Day with special programming and events at the Center and online. 

Judges on Judging

Run time: 1 hour

The Honorable Marjorie Rendell, Cheryl Ann Krause, and Stephanos Bibas, judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, join the National Constitution Center’s Constitution Day celebrations to discuss how judges approach cases, reviewing the seven different methodologies of constitutional interpretation. The judges will also explain how the federal courts of appeal work and their role in the federal court system. Watch now

Scholar Exchange: The Constitutional Convention

Run time: 43 minutes

Professors Hasan Kwame Jeffries, associate professor of history at The Ohio State University, Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, and Colleen Sheehan, professor of politics at Arizona State University, join National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion on the issues and events in early America that led to the Constitutional Convention. We will also explore the NEW Founders’ Library of primary source documents and each panelist will pick their favorite historical text to share with students and discuss the importance and impact of the primary source. Watch now

The Preamble

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

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.