The National Constitution Center will honor Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 34th annual Liberty Medal ceremony at 6 p.m. ET on Monday, November 7, 2022. The ceremony will include remarks from:

• George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States (recorded remarks)
• Chris Coons, U.S. senator
• Jane Ferguson, special correspondent, PBS NewsHour
• Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO, National Constitution Center
• George F. Will, columnist, The Washington Post

It will also feature a special performance by the Ukrainian Children's Choir Soloveiky with soloist Yuliya Stupen. The ceremony will be streamed live on our website. 

JUST ANNOUNCED: The National Constitution Center and Khan Academy will launch a free online course, providing high school students with a nonpartisan opportunity to learn about the core principles of the Constitution and civil dialogue. This new initiative, which will begin as a pilot program in 2024, is supported by a special $9 million gift from the Yass Foundation for Education. Learn more

Debate at America's Town Hall

The Battle for the American West

Thursday, November 10 at 12 p.m. ET 

For Native American Heritage Month, the National Constitution Center presents a discussion with historians H.W. Brands, author of The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America; Lori Daggar, author of Cultivating Empire: Capitalism, Philanthropy, and the Negotiation of American Imperialism in Indian Country; and others for a historical overview of U.S. westward expansion and Indigenous resistance. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Cicero and the Constitution

Friday, November 18 at 12 p.m. ET 

How did Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman statesman and philosopher, influence the Founding generation, the Constitution, and American political thought? Join Scott Nelson, author of Cicero, Politics, and the 21st Century; Benjamin Straumann, author of Crisis and Constitutionalism: Roman Political Thought from the Fall of the Republic to the Age of Revolution; and Caroline Winterer of Stanford University for a conversation exploring the political ideas of Cicero, his impact on America, and what we can learn from him today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Justice William O. Douglas: Public Advocate and Conservation Champion

Tuesday, November 22 at 7 p.m. ET 

The Honorable Jeffrey Sutton, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, joins the Honorable M. Margaret McKeown, senior judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, for a discussion on McKeown’s new book, Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of William O. Douglas—Public Advocate and Conservation Champion, and the constitutional legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, one of the court’s longest-serving justices. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Classes and Resources on Slavery in America

Scholar Exchange: Slavery in America

Friday, November 4 at 1 p.m. ET

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, professor of constitutional law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) and host of WHYY’s Your Democracy, joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a conversation on slavery in America from the Constitution to Reconstruction. Register now

Live from the Museum: Virtual Battles for Equality Program

Wednesday, November 9 at Noon ET

This interactive program explores the story of slavery in the United States through a constitutional lens, taking visitors on a journey from the time of the Constitutional Convention to the start of the Civil War. Register now

Live from the Museum: Virtual Principles of the American Revolution Tour

Wednesday, November 16 at Noon ET; Friday, November 18 at 1 p.m.ET

In this session, students will explore the American Treasures exhibit to examine the key ideas that the Constitution is built on: popular sovereignty, natural rights, and rule of law. Learn more

Online Resources to Commemorate Veterans Day

Thank-A-Vet Postcards 

Send a message of thanks to a U.S. veteran through our partnership with the Thank-A-Vet program. Download one of our postcards or design one of your own! Completed postcards can be mailed to the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, where they will be distributed to veterans through the Thank-A-Vet program. Learn more

Lesson Plan: Art of the American Soldier – Stories from the Soldiers 

This lesson uses primary sources in the form of paintings and video interviews to encourage students to deepen their appreciation of war art through watching and listening to veteran war experiences. Students are then asked to point out details in the artwork influenced by the stories. Learn more

The History of Thanksgiving

Grab a seat at the table as we talk turkey! We’ll explore the history of Thanksgiving—from the first Thanksgiving menu to recent presidential turkey pardons—so join us as we take a look at what this holiday is all about. Watch now

Native American Heritage Month 

Tuesday, November 1 through Wednesday, November 30 

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the National Constitution Center is hosting a series of activities highlighting the history of American Indians, tribal governments, and their relationship to the U.S. Constitution and American democracy including: 

• Scholar Talks
• History of Thanksgiving Program 
• Lenape Language Activity 
• Tribal Mapping 
• Crafts, activities, and more!

Veterans Day

Friday, November 11 | 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Free Admission for Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, the National Constitution Center recognizes the dedication and sacrifices of the brave people who have answered the Constitution’s call to “provide for the common defense.” On-site activities include:

• Wreath laying ceremony
• Veterans Chats
• Military Matching Activity
• Letter Writing Stations

WATCH

Jefferson: The Reader and Writer

Run time: 1 hour, 4 minutes

Historians Andrew Browning, Nancy Isenberg, and Thomas Kidd explore Thomas Jefferson’s life and legacy through the lens of his own education and what he read—and how those influences shaped the American idea. Watch now

LISTEN

Affirmative Action and the 14th Amendment – Part 1

Run time: 56 minutes

Ted Shaw and David Bernstein discuss a pair of cases in which the Supreme Court will assess whether universities are violating the Equal Protection Clause by using race as a factor in admissions. Listen now

Pork, The Dormant Commerce Clause, and Legislating Morality

We the People podcast | Run time: 43 minutes

Erwin Chemerinsky and Michael McConnell recap the oral arguments in National Pork Producers v. Ross, a case about a 2018 California ballot initiative in which voters decided that the state should prohibit the in-state sale of pork from animals confined in a manner inconsistent with California standards. Listen now

Redistricting in Alabama and the Voting Rights Act — Part 2

Run time: 53 minutes

Rick Hasen and Jason Torchinsky discuss Merrill v. Milligan in which the Supreme Court will determine whether Alabama’s 2021 redistricting plan violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Listen now or listen to Part 1 here

READ

The First Amendment and School Library Book Policies

Constitution Daily blog | Read time: 5 minutes

"Book selections at public school libraries are back in the headlines after a new lawsuit is questioning the constitutional power of school boards to exclude certain books from student access. ..." Read more

10 Fascinating Facts on the White House’s Anniversary

Constitution Daily blog | Read time: 3 minutes

"October 13 marks the anniversary of an American icon: the White House. Here's a look back at its remarkable history. ..." Read more

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