National Constitution Center

Free Admission through September 5

The National Constitution Center team is excited to welcome back visitors after temporarily closing to the public in the wake of COVID-19.

The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote Exhibit Opening

The National Constitution Center team is pleased to announce that our newest exhibit, The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote, will open to the public on Wednesday, August 26, 2020—the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s certification.

Scholar Exchange: Constitutional Conversations and Civil Dialogue

In this session, students will examine the structure and function of the U.S. Constitution, and the methods scholars use to interpret it.

Scholar Exchange: Foundations of American Democracy

In this session, students will examine the form of government established by the Constitution, and its key ideas—including natural rights, the rule of law, and popular sovereignty.

Scholar Exchange: Constitution 101: The Constitutional Convention

In this session, students will examine the issues and events that led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, including the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, Shay’s Rebellion, and the growing need for a new national government.

Scholar Exchange: Constitution Day: Virtual Student Town Hall with Justice Neil M. Gorsuch

Join the National Constitution Center’s in a special Student Town Hall with U.S. Supreme Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch.

Scholar Exchange: Ratification Debates

In this session, students will explore the battle over the ratification of the Constitution—beginning with Convention delegates like George Mason who refused to sign the Constitution and continuing through the debates between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

Scholar Exchange: Federalism

In this session, students will explore Federalism and the debate over how to balance the powers of the national government, the powers of the states, and the rights of individuals.

Scholar Exchange: Learning about the Electoral College

In this session, students will explore the Electoral College’s controversial origins at the Constitution Convention, the influence of founder James Wilson, and the many attempts to reform it over the years.

Scholar Exchange: Article II: The Presidency and the Executive Branch

In this session, students will explore the powers of the president. The class will take a close look at Article II of the Constitution, which addresses the presidency and the executive branch.

Scholar Exchange: Voting Rights Amendments Session

In this session, students learn about voting rights in America through a historical exploration of the right to vote in America. 

Virtual Information Session: Teacher Advisory Council

Scholar Exchange: Constitutional Battles of the Branches

In this session, students focus on separation of powers and how the Constitution set up a system of checks and balances between the different branches of government.

Scholar Exchange: The Bill of Rights

In this session, students study the Bill of Rights—its rights, its protections and limitations on government—and the process by which it was discussed, debated, and ratified.

Scholar Exchange: Slavery in America: The Constitution to Reconstruction

In this session, students engage in a conversation on slavery in America from the Constitution to Reconstruction. This session will explore the Constitution, the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, and the Reconstruction founders’ vision of a “Second Founding” for our nation. 

Scholar Exchange: Battles for Equality in America: The 14th Amendment

In this session, students explore the 14th Amendment and the battles for equality in America. The class examines the clauses of the 14th Amendment and the battle over their meaning from Reconstruction to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on marriage equality in Obergefell.

Scholar Exchange: Article I: How Congress Works – The Legislative Branch

In this session, students explore Article I of the Constitution, which defines the powers of Congress. This class examines constitutional debates involving the legislative branch from the Constitutional Convention to the most recent term.

Scholar Exchange: Foundations of American Democracy (December)

In this session, students will examine the form of government established by the Constitution, and its key ideas—including natural rights, the rule of law, and popular sovereignty.

Scholar Exchange: Supreme Court in Review: Article III – From Judicial Selection to Current Cases

In this session, students explore Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which defines the powers of the judicial branch and the Supreme Court. This class covers the nomination and confirmation process of Supreme Court justices and how judicial power (and the Supreme Court’s role) is defined in Alexander Hamilton’s The Federalist Papers #78 and cases such as Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Scholar Exchange: Constitution 101: The Constitutional Convention (January)

In this session, students will examine the issues and events that led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, including the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, Shay’s Rebellion, and the growing need for a new national government.

Scholar Exchange: Canonical/Landmark Cases Class

In this session, students explore the history of the Supreme Court and landmark Supreme Court cases from Marbury v. Madison (1803) to the Roberts Court.

Scholar Exchange: The Civil Rights Movement, the Warren Court, and Landmark Civil Rights Laws

In this session, students explore the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement; the Warren Court; and landmark civil rights laws enacted by Congress—including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965—and how they have been interpreted by the Supreme Court

Scholar Exchange: Article V: The Amendment Process

In this session, student will explore amending the U.S. Constitution. What is the amendment process, when has it been done before, and why did the framers write this into the Constitution in the first place?

Scholar Exchange: First Amendment: Speech and Press

In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the First Amendment—focusing especially on the factors motivating America’s founding generation. Students will also examine various types of speech, including symbolic speech, hate speech, and political speech.

Scholar Exchange: First Amendment: Religion Clauses

In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the First Amendment’s free exercise and establishment clauses. Students will examine the protections enshrined in the First Amendment’s religion clauses.

Scholar Exchange: First Amendment: Assembly and Petition

In this session, students will engage in a conversation on the First Amendment’s assembly and petition clause, and how these freedoms are defined in an age of new technology.

Scholar Exchange: Civil Liberties Overview

In this session, student will explore civil liberties—the basic individual rights of all citizens, as expressed in the Bill of Rights and reinforced by the 14th Amendment.

Scholar Exchange: Amendment Review – 27 amendments in 27 minutes…plus a few more

In this fast-paced and fun session, students will review all of the 27 amendments added to the Constitution, and explore the big ideas and changes that each one has made on our system of government.

Scholar Exchange: 19th Amendment: Women’s Right to Vote

In this session, students will trace the roots of the women’s rights movement—from early reform efforts in the 1800s to the ultimate decision to pursue voting rights.

Scholar Exchange: Slavery in America: The Constitution to Reconstruction (March)

In this session, students engage in a conversation on slavery in America from the Constitution to Reconstruction. This session will explore the Constitution, the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, and the Reconstruction founders’ vision of a “Second Founding” for our nation. 

Scholar Exchange: Battles for Equality in America: The 14th Amendment (March)

In this session, students explore the 14th Amendment and the battles for equality in America. The class examines the clauses of the 14th Amendment and the battle over their meaning from Reconstruction to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on marriage equality in Obergefell.

Scholar Exchange: Constitution 101: The Constitutional Convention (April)

In this session, students will examine the issues and events that led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, including the weakness of the Articles of Confederation, Shay’s Rebellion, and the growing need for a new national government.

Scholar Exchange: The Bill of Rights (April)

In this session, students study the Bill of Rights—its rights, its protections and limitations on government—and the process by which it was discussed, debated, and ratified. Students will also explore how the Bill of Rights affects them today.

Scholar Exchange: AP Court Case Review

In this fast-paced and fun session, students will review the top 15 Supreme Court cases from a typical course of study for an AP Government class.

Scholar Exchange: Founding Documents

In this fast-paced and fun session, students will review America’s founding documents from a typical course of study for an AP Government class.

Scholar Exchange: Fourth Amendment privacy in a digital age, policing in America, search and seizure

In this session, students will examine the historical context and the drafting of the Fourth Amendment. Students will explore what the Fourth Amendment says and means.

Scholar Exchange: Second Amendment

In this session, students will engage in a conversation on the Second Amendment, and its protection of the right to keep and bear arms.

Scholar Exchange: Supreme Court in Review: Article III – From Judicial Selection to Current Cases (May)

In this session, students explore Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which defines the powers of the judicial branch and the Supreme Court.

Scholar Exchange: Constitutional Battles of the Branches (May)

In this session, students focus on separation of powers and how the Constitution set up a system of checks and balances between the different branches of government.