FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Annie Stone, 703-217-1169 [email protected]
Merissa Blum, 215-370-0387 [email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER ANNOUNCES NEW AMERICA’S TOWN HALL
PROGRAMS FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2020
Speakers include U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen and Mary Gay Scanlon, bestselling historian Lynne Cheney, eminent political scientist Robert Putnam, and others
Topics include press freedom during turbulent times, Virginia presidents and creating America, libertarian and progressive constitutions, the president and immigration law, and more
Philadelphia, PA (September 1, 2020) – Today, the National Constitution Center released a lineup of new programs as part of its America’s Town Hall series of constitutional conversations and debates. Most programs are free to the public and will be held online.
As part of the National Constitution Center’s Constitution Drafting Project, the Center will host a program on October 1 to celebrate the publication of the libertarian and progressive constitutions. Libertarian contributors—Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute, Timothy Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute, and Christina Mulligan of Brooklyn Law School—and progressive contributors—Caroline Fredrickson of Georgetown Law School, Jamal Greene of Columbia Law School, and Melissa Murray of New York University School of Law—will present and discuss their constitutions. The Constitution Drafting Project brings together three teams of leading constitutional scholars—team libertarian, team progressive, and team conservative—to draft and present their ideal constitutions.
Headlining the lineup of programs is U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen and Mary Gay Scanlon, who will join Richard Lowry, editor of the National Review, and Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, to discuss the rights of journalists when covering protests and government response to protests in turbulent times.
Additional programs will be added. Up-to-date program information is available at constitutioncenter.org/debate.
Upcoming America’s Town Hall programming:
Press Freedom During Turbulent Times
Wednesday, September 2, 7 p.m. EDT
Free Online
Freedom of press has been a pillar of American democracy since the founding, but journalists are reporting an unprecedented number of attacks during recent nationwide protests. U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen and Mary Gay Scanlon; Richard Lowry, editor of the National Review; and Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America and author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All, join for a conversation exploring the rights of journalists when covering protests and government response to protests in turbulent times. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Lynne Cheney: Four Presidents and the Creation of the American Nation
Thursday, September 24, 7 p.m. EDT
Registration will open September 2
Join bestselling historian Lynne Cheney in conversation about her new book, The Virginia Dynasty, a vivid account focusing on the first four Virginia presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Cheney explores how these friends and rivals led in securing independence, hammering out the U.S. Constitution, and building a working republic. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
The Constitution Drafting Project: Libertarian and Progressive Constitutions
Thursday, October 1, 6:30 p.m. EDT
Free Online
Join the National Constitution Center for the launch of the Constitution Drafting Project. The project brings together three teams of leading constitutional scholars—team libertarian, team progressive, and team conservative—to draft and present their ideal constitutions. To celebrate the publication of the libertarian and progressive constitutions, libertarian contributors—Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute, Timothy Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute, and Christina Mulligan of Brooklyn Law School—and progressive contributors—Caroline Fredrickson of Georgetown Law School, Jamal Greene of Columbia Law School, and Melissa Murray of New York University School of Law—will present and discuss their constitutions. This program is generously sponsored by Jeff Yass.
The President and Immigration Law
Thursday, October 8, 12 p.m. EDT
Free Online
The biggest immigration controversies of the last decade have all involved policies produced by the president, such as President Obama’s decision to protect Dreamers from deportation and President Trump’s proclamation banning immigrants from several majority-Muslim nations. But should the president be America’s immigration policymaker-in-chief? Michael McConnell of Stanford Law School joins Adam Cox and Cristina Rodríguez, authors of The President and Immigration Law, for a deep dive into the history of American immigration policy and debate about who should control immigration policy today.
How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
Thursday, October 15, 7 p.m. EDT
Free Online
Eminent political scientist Robert Putnam discusses his book, The Upswing, with co-author Shaylyn Romney Garrett, exploring the economic, social, and political trends over the past century that brought us from an “I” society to a “We” society and then back again. Putnam and Romney will also discuss how we can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more unified nation.
The National Constitution Center’s America’s Town Hall series features distinguished leaders, scholars, authors, and journalists who speak on the most significant constitutional topics of our time. The Center’s online America’s Town Hall programs are free. Viewers can register for the Zoom sessions at constitutioncenter.org/debate or watch from youtube.com/ConstitutionCenter. Archived America’s Town Hall programs can be found on the Interactive Constitution at constitutioncenter.com/interactive-constitution/media-library.
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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.
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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.
