About the Workshop

The five freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution—free speech, a free press, religious liberty, assembly, and petition—go to the heart of who we are as Americans and human beings. Many of our most intense national debates and landmark Supreme Court cases have centered on defining these freedoms, including who gets to exercise them and how.

The “Exploring the First Amendment” institutes will consider the development of the First Amendment in Philadelphia, from William Penn’s founding of the Colony of Pennsylvania through the present day. Through immersive visits and lectures at key sites in Historic Philadelphia, participants will learn how Philadelphia’s tradition of honoring and testing the limits of speech, press, religion, and assembly was essential to the American founding and key to America’s future. Participants will further learn how the Philadelphia tradition of embodying the First Amendment through freedom of conscience helped forge a new, and then-uniquely American culture—one that profoundly honors the freedom to think, act, and live according to the dictates of one’s conscience.

Session One:

Sunday, July 14–Friday, July 19

Session Two:

Sunday, July 21–Friday, July 26

How to Apply:

Learn more about application criteria and important dates here.

Day One - Introduction to the First Amendment

Day will begin around 12 p.m. and end around 8:30 p.m.

• Introduction to the Center and Overview of the Institute
• Introductory Lecture by retired U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer
• Primary Source exploration and collaborative time
• Scholar Talk by Thomas Donnelly on the Foundations of the First Amendment
• Walking tour of Philadelphia
• Opening Night Dinner

Day Two – Freedom of Speech

Day will begin around 8:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.

• Welcome and overview of daily goals and activities
• Guided tour of National Constitution Center’s Signers’ Hall
• Classroom Connections Session
• Scholar Talk featuring Geoffrey Stone and Eugene Volokh on “The History and Modern Court Findings of the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment”
• Lunch
• Primary Source Exploration and Classroom Connections Session
• Closing Scholar Q&A
• Day Concludes

Day Three – Freedom of the Press

Day will begin around 8:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.

• Welcome and overview of daily goals and activities
• Guided tour of National Constitution Center’s First Amendment Gallery
• Classroom Connections Session
• Scholar Talk featuring Thomas Donnelly on the Freedom of the Press
• Lunch
• Primary Source Exploration and Classroom Connections Session
• Closing Scholar Q&A
• Day Concludes

Day Four – Freedom of Religion (The Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses)

Day will begin around 8:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.

• Welcome and overview of the daily goals and activities
• Guided tour of National Constitution Center’s Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality exhibit
• Classroom Connections Session
• Scholar Talk featuring Thomas Donnelly on the Freedom of the Religion
• Lunch
• Site visit to Mother Bethel A.M.E Church
• Classroom Connections Session
• Closing Scholar Q&A
• Day Concludes

Day Five – Freedom of Assembly and Petition

Day will begin around 8:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.

• Welcome and overview of daily goals and activities
• Guided tour of National Constitution Center’s The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote exhibit
• Classroom Connections Session
• Scholar Talk featuring Thomas Donnelly on the Freedom of the Assembly and Petition
• Lunch
• Site Visit to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
• Classroom Connections Session
• Closing Scholar Q&A
• Day Concludes

Day Six - Civil Dialogue and the First Amendment

Day will begin around 8:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m.

• Welcome and overview of daily goals and activities
• Summary and Reflection
• Participant Evaluations
• Institute Concludes

Day One Readings

• Jefferson, Thomas. “A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom.” (1777)
• Brandeis, Louis. Whitney v. California (concurrence), 274 U.S. 357 (1927)

Day Two Readings

• Stone, Geoffrey and Volokh, Eugene. “A Common Interpretation: Freedom of Speech and the Press.” Interactive Constitution
• Stone, Geoffrey. “Fixing Free Speech.” Interactive Constitution
• Volokh, Eugene. “Frontiers of Free Speech.” Interactive Constitution

Day Three Readings

• New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
• Schenk v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919)
• New York Times Co. v. the United States, 403 U.S. 713 (1971)
• Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988)

Day Four Readings

• Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990)
• Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1878)
• Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)
• Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972)
• West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)
• Kennedy v. Bremerton, 597 U.S. ____ (2022)
• Locke, John. “A Letter Concerning Toleration.” (1689)
• Mason, George. “The Virginia Declaration of Rights.” (1776)

Day Five Readings

• Douglass, Frederick. “A Plea for Freedom of Speech in Boston.” (1860)
• “Petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery to the First Congress.” (1790)
• “Proceedings of the State Convention of Colored People, Held at Albany, New York.” (1851)
• “Seneca Falls Declaration.” (1848)
• Edwards, Laura F., and Lash, Kurt. “The Gag Rules Debate, 1835-1840.” Founders’ Library, constitutioncenter.org

Stipend

Attendees will receive a stipend for $1,300, which can be used to offset travel, lodging, and food costs once during the institute. This stipend qualifies as taxable income and will be presented to participants at the conclusion of the institute week.

Travel

Attendees are responsible for arranging their own travel. Below are tips and guidelines for travel by plane, train, or car.

By Plane

If you are traveling by plane, the most convenient airport is Philadelphia International (airport code PHL). The Institute will end on Friday at approximately noon. If you plan to depart immediately following the conclusion of the Institute, you will need to book a flight departing no earlier than 3:30 p.m. ET.

The following costs are not eligible to be covered under the stipend:

• Baggage fees
• Upgrade costs
• Travel to and from the airport (taxi, Uber, Lyft, etc.)
• Gas used to travel to and from the airport
• Airport parking fees

By Train

If you are traveling by Amtrak, the most convenient station is 30th Street Station. If you are traveling by SEPTA, the most convenient station is Jefferson Station. The Institute will end on Friday at approximately noon. If you plan to depart immediately following the conclusion of the Institute, you will want to plan for a train departing no earlier than 2 p.m. ET.

The following costs are not eligible to be covered under the stipend:

• Baggage fees
• Upgrade costs
• Travel to and from the train station (taxi, Uber, Lyft, etc.)
• Gas used to travel to and from the train station
• Train station parking fees

By Car

If you are traveling by car, directions to the Center can be found here.

Complimentary parking will be offered in the Center’s garage for attendees driving to the Institute or commuting each day. For GPS use: 540 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. There are several parking garages located near the Center, however, complimentary parking can only be offered to those who use the Center’s garage at 540 Race Street. Participants who drive to the Institute are free to leave their cars overnight in the garage. Complimentary parking is offered regardless of how long your car is parked.

The current reimbursement rate is $0.65 per mile. Please submit a copy of the directions between your starting location and the Center in order to receive the stipend. This can be generated from a mapping website like MapQuest or Google Maps. The total miles traveled must be included.

The following costs are not eligible to be covered under the stipend:

• Tolls
• Parking costs during trip to Philadelphia
• Parking costs at a garage other than the Center’s

Housing and Food

Attendees are responsible for booking their own rooms. While the Center has holds on a block of rooms, we cannot make the individual reservations.

The Center has a block of discounted rooms at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, located at 400 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA.

The total, with current tax rates, will come to $1,076.43. Participants will receive instructions on how to book their rooms either through an online link or over the phone.

Upon checking into the hotel, the front desk will pre-authorize each guest with a $50 per day hold for incidentals. This hold will be released right after you check out, if there are no incidental charges necessary. Please ensure you bring a credit card for this hold, as it is not included in the stipend amount.

Check-in/Check-out: The Wyndham’s check-in time begins at 4:00 p.m. and check-out time is 11:00 a.m. The hotel will honor early check-ins on a space-available basis.

Participants are welcome to book a room at another local hotel or through an alternative site like AirBnB.