FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Annie Stone, 703-217-1169 [email protected]
Merissa Blum, 215-370-0387 [email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER ANNOUNCES NEW SEASON OF
AMERICA’S TOWN HALL PROGRAMS
Speakers include free speech defenders Randall Kennedy, Nadine Strossen, and Greg Lukianoff; Attorneys General Doug Peterson of Nebraska and Phil Weiser of Colorado; former U.S. Solicitor General Gregory G. Garre; and Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick
Special program and dedication ceremony on May 2 will celebrate the installation of 50-ton First Amendment tablet overlooking Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA (April 14, 2022) – 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.
On May 2, in celebration of the unveiling of the First Amendment tablet at the National Constitution Center, free speech defenders Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School, Nadine Strossen of New York Law School, and Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education join for a discussion of why the First Amendment matters today. A dedication ceremony with remarks from the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (former); Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum; and Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, follows. Members of the National Constitution Center and members of the press may join the program and dedication ceremony in person at the National Constitution Center.
All programs are free to the public and will be held online via Zoom and YouTube. Below is a full list of programs; additional programs to be added. Up-to-date program information is available at constitutioncenter.org/debate.
Upcoming America’s Town Hall programming:
America’s Early Justices and How They Shaped the Supreme Court
Tuesday, April 19, 7 p.m. ET
Free Online
Historians and biographers provide a historical look at some of America’s earliest justices—from John Jay, the first chief justice, to George Washington’s nephew Bushrod Washington and Pennsylvania Founding Father James Wilson. Join Gerard Magliocca, author of Washington’s Heir: The Life of Justice Bushrod Washington, Supreme Court historian Maeva Marcus of George Washington University Law School, and Walter Stahr, author of John Jay: Founding Father and Salmon P. Chase: Lincoln’s Vital Rival, as they discuss the impact of these early justices on American history. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Why the First Amendment Matters Today
Monday, May 2, 5:30 p.m. ET
Free Online
In celebration of the unveiling of the First Amendment tablet at the National Constitution Center, free speech defenders Randall Kennedy of Harvard Law School, Nadine Strossen of New York Law School, and Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education join for a discussion of why the First Amendment matters today. A dedication ceremony with remarks from the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (former); Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum; and Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, follows.
This program is presented in celebration of the newly installed First Amendment tablet at the National Constitution Center donated by the Freedom Forum, which works to foster First Amendment freedoms for all. The design and installation of the tablet was made possible by the Honorable J. Michael Luttig and Elizabeth A. Luttig. Members of the National Constitution Center and members of the press are invited to join the program and dedication ceremony in person.
Rights, Regulations, and the Modern Administrative State
Tuesday, May 10, 12 p.m. ET
Free Online
From lawsuits over the federal government’s vaccine mandates or the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation of carbon emissions, the Supreme Court is debating the constitutional scope of the administrative state more vigorously than at any time since the New Deal. Join Lisa Heinzerling of Georgetown University Law Center, Ilan Wurman of Arizona State University Law, and William J. Novak, author of New Democracy: The Creation of the Modern American State, for a conversation exploring the rise of the administrative state, current cases about the scope of its power, and its future. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution, moderates.
The United Kingdom and the United States: A Constitutional Dialogue
Tuesday, May 24, 12 p.m. ET
Free Online
Join Nicholas Cole of the University of Oxford, Alison Lacroix of the University of Chicago Law School, and others for a conversation comparing the legal systems of the United States and the United Kingdom, including the ways both countries have influenced each other’s constitutional and political structures over time, from the COVID-19 pandemic to rising threats to democracy around the world. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. The program is presented in partnership with the University of Oxford.
2022 Annual Supreme Court Review
Tuesday, July 12, 12 p.m. ET
Free Online
The National Constitution Center and ADL present an America’s Town Hall featuring distinguished legal experts Erwin Chemerinsky, Gregory G. Garre, Frederick Lawrence, Dahlia Lithwick, and Melissa Murray to discuss the most important cases of the Supreme Court term, including cases about separation of church and state, immigration, voting rights, abortion, and gun rights. They will also discuss the impact of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Court and what to expect next term. This program is presented in partnership with ADL. The program is presented in partnership with ADL. CLE credit will be offered through ADL.
Coming this season:
Oligarchies, Monopolies, and the Constitution
Free Online
Is the Constitution “anti-oligarchy”? What does it say about monopolies and antitrust? Legal experts Joseph Fishkin and William E. Forbath, co-authors of The Anti-Oligarchy Constitution, join law professor Steven Calabresi of Northwestern Law for a conversation moderated by Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center.
Social Media and Public Health: A Conversation Featuring State Attorneys General
Free Online
The National Constitution Center and the National Association of Attorneys General host a bipartisan conversation with Attorneys General Doug Peterson of Nebraska and Phil Weiser of Colorado exploring the role of state attorneys general, state law, and state police powers under the Constitution in addressing the potential dangers of various social media platforms to public health, privacy, and competition. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program is presented in partnership with the Center for Excellence in Governance at the National Association of Attorneys General.
The Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois
Free Online
Acclaimed historians Eric Foner and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., editors of a new addition of Du Bois’ landmark book W.E.B. Du Bois: Black Reconstruction, discuss Du Bois’ intellectual vision and key writings, including his groundbreaking study of the role African Americans played during Reconstruction. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
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.
