PHILADELPHIA, PA (September 12, 2024) – Today, the National Constitution Center (NCC) released a lineup of new programming as part of its America’s Town Hall series of constitutional conversations and debates, moderated by NCC President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. All programs are free to the public and will be held live online via Zoom and YouTube, and select events held at the Center as noted. The full list of programs, including registration information, is available HERE. All programs are open to the press and require registration.
The fall season of America’s Town Hall kicks off tonight with best-selling author, philanthropist, and National Constitution Center Trustee David Rubenstein for an in-person program at the Center discussing his new book, The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency.
The Center celebrates Constitution Day on Tuesday, September 17, with an in-person program featuring the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and NCC honorary co-chair, and co-author and former law clerk Janie Nitze for the release of their book, Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law.
Stanford University professor Jonathan Gienapp, author of the new book, Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique, is joined by Stephen Sachs of Harvard Law School on Tuesday, October 8, to discuss Gienapp’s challenge to originalists’ unspoken assumptions about the Constitution, the history of originalism as a constitutional methodology, and its role in constitutional interpretation today.
David Greenberg’s new biography, John Lewis: A Life, chronicles the remarkable story of the civil rights activist and congressman. Professor Kenneth Mack of Harvard University joins Greenberg on Wednesday, October 16, for a discussion of Lewis’ life and impact on American history, whose heroism during the Civil Rights Movement helped inspire America’s new birth of freedom.
The 2024 National First Amendment Summit, co-hosted by FIRE and NYU’s First Amendment Watch, takes place at the Center on Tuesday, October 22. The National Constitution Center’s First Amendment Summit convenes America’s leading thinkers for a vigorous discussion of the state of free speech in America and around the globe. A keynote conversation about global free speech with Jason Rezaian of The Washington Post will be followed by discussions of free speech on campus and online. Panelists include FIRE Vice President of Campus Advocacy Alex Morey; Jonathan Turley, author of the new book The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage; Mary Anne Franks, author of the new book Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment; Keith Whittington, author of You Can’t Teach That!: The Battle over University Classrooms; and Kenji Yoshino of NYU School of Law.
As Election Day nears, Jesse Wegman, author of Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College, and professor Robert Hardaway, author of Saving the Electoral College: Why the National Popular Vote Would Undermine Democracy, convene on Tuesday, October 29, for a program examining the history and current debate over the Electoral College.
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Keith Richotte Jr., author of the forthcoming book, The Worst Trickster Story Ever Told: Native America, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Constitution, and Matthew L.M. Fletcher of the University of Michigan discuss Native American history and law through the stories of landmark Supreme Court cases on Monday, November 4.
Also in November, Christopher Cox, former U.S. congressman and author of the new book, Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn, and Professor Geoffrey Stone of the University of Chicago join us for a program on Friday, November 15, exploring Wilson’s presidential legacy, constitutional vision, and impact on American democracy.
On Monday, December 2, in an event generously sponsored by the Lilly Endowment, Jane Calvert, author of Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson; Vincent Phillip Muñoz, author of Religious Liberty and the American Founding: Natural Rights and the Original Meanings of the First Amendment Religion Clauses; and Thomas Kidd, author of God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution, convene for a discussion on religious liberty and the founders.
The final program of the fall 2024 America’s Town Hall season will be on Thursday, December 12, and will explore the life and constitutional legacy of Founding Father Gouverneur Morris. Dennis Rasmussen, author of The Constitution’s Penman: Gouverneur Morris and the Creation of America’s Basic Charter; Melanie Randolph Miller, author of An Incautious Man: The Life of Gouverneur Morris; and William Treanor, dean of Georgetown Law, discuss the fantastic life and constitutional legacy of Morris: Founding Father, key member of the Committee of Style, and opponent of slavery.
All programs are open to the press. Please RSVP to Moira Bagley Smith or via the program links below.
America’s Town Hall Fall 2024 Programming
NOTE: Programs are subject to change. Visit the National Constitution Center’s website for the most up-to-date program details.
‘The Highest Calling’: A Conversation With David Rubenstein on the American Presidency
Thursday, September 12 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET
Free In Person and Online
Join best-selling author, philanthropist, and National Constitution Center Trustee David Rubenstein for a program discussing his new book, The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency. The book features interviews with living American presidents and top historians and journalists who reflect on the U.S. presidency, the political genius and frays of the presidential role, and the wisdom that emerges from it.
A book sale and signing with David Rubenstein will follow the discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m.
A Conversation With Justice Neil Gorsuch on ‘The Human Toll of Too Much Law’
Tuesday, September 17 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET
Free In Person and Online
Join us for an evening America’s Town Hall program featuring a conversation with the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and NCC honorary co-chair, and his co-author and former law clerk Janie Nitze, in celebration of Constitution Day 2024 and the release of their latest book, Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law.
A book sale and signing with Justice Gorsuch will follow the discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m.
For or Against Constitutional Originalism?: A Debate
Tuesday, October 8 | 1–2 p.m. ET
Free Online
Stanford University professor Jonathan Gienapp, author of the new book, Against Constitutional Originalism: A Historical Critique, is joined by Stephen Sachs of Harvard Law School to discuss Gienapp’s challenge to originalists’ unspoken assumptions about the Constitution, the history of originalism as a constitutional methodology, and its role in constitutional interpretation today.
John Lewis: A Life
Wednesday, October 16 | Noon–1 p.m. ET
Free Online
David Greenberg’s new biography, John Lewis: A Life, chronicles the remarkable story of the civil rights activist and congressman. Professor Kenneth Mack of Harvard University joins Greenberg for a discussion of Lewis’ life and impact on American history, whose heroism during the Civil Rights Movement helped inspire America’s new birth of freedom.
2024 National First Amendment Summit
Tuesday, October 22 | Reception: 4:30–5:30; Program: 5:30–7 p.m. ET
Free In Person and Online
Co-hosted by FIRE, and NYU’s First Amendment Watch, the National Constitution Center’s 2024 First Amendment Summit convenes America’s leading thinkers for a vigorous discussion of the state of free speech in America and around the globe. A keynote conversation about global free speech with Jason Rezaian of The Washington Post will be followed by discussions of free speech on campus and online. Panelists include FIRE Vice President of Campus Advocacy Alex Morey; Jonathan Turley, author of the new book The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage; Mary Anne Franks, author of the new book Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment; Keith Whittington, author of You Can’t Teach That!: The Battle over University Classrooms; and Kenji Yoshino of NYU School of Law.
This event is presented in partnership with FIRE and NYU’s First Amendment Watch.
Electing the President: The Popular Vote vs. The Electoral College
Tuesday, October 29 | Noon–1 p.m. ET
Free Online
On the eve of the 2024 presidential election, join Jesse Wegman, author of Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College, and professor Robert Hardaway, author of Saving the Electoral College: Why the National Popular Vote Would Undermine Democracy, for a program examining the history and current debate over the Electoral College.
Native Americans and the Supreme Court
Monday, November 4 | Noon–1 p.m. ET
Free Online
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, Keith Richotte Jr., author of the forthcoming book, The Worst Trickster Story Ever Told: Native America, the Supreme Court, and the U.S. Constitution, and Matthew L.M. Fletcher of the University of Michigan, discuss Native American history and law through the stories of landmark Supreme Court cases.
Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn
Friday, November 25 | Noon–1 p.m. ET
Free Online
Join Christopher Cox, former U.S. congressman and author of the new book, Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn, and Professor Geoffrey Stone of the University of Chicago for a program exploring Wilson’s presidential legacy, constitutional vision, and impact on American democracy.
How Religious Were the Founders?
Monday, December 2 | 7–8 p.m. ET
Free Online
Join Jane Calvert, author of Penman of the Founding: A Biography of John Dickinson; Vincent Phillip Muñoz, author of Religious Liberty and the American Founding: Natural Rights and the Original Meanings of the First Amendment Religion Clauses; and Thomas Kidd, author of God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution, for a discussion on the religious liberty and the founders.
This event is generously sponsored by the Lilly Endowment.
The Life and Constitutional Legacy of Gouverneur Morris
Thursday, December 12 | Noon–1 p.m. ET
Free Online
Dennis Rasmussen, author of The Constitution’s Penman: Gouverneur Morris and the Creation of America’s Basic Charter; Melanie Randolph Miller, author of An Incautious Man: The Life of Gouverneur Morris; and William Treanor, dean of Georgetown Law, explore the fantastic life and constitutional legacy of Gouverneur Morris: Founding Father, key member of the Committee of Style, and opponent of slavery.
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About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
