EXPLORE

To deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Constitution, we invite you to explore a wealth of resources:

• Interactive Constitution: Dive into the text of the Constitution and explore its relevance to current issues.
• Library of Congress: Access comprehensive resources on the U.S. Constitution, including historical documents and analysis.
• National Constitution Center: Visit the official website for a wide range of educational materials, including essays, podcasts, and videos that explore the historical and modern significance of the Constitution.
• National Archives: The Charters of Freedom, which include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are available for viewing and exploration.

WATCH

• Civic Stories with Justice Neil M. Gorsuch from the National Constitution Center:  Watch as the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and NCC honorary co-chair, joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion on his new book, which focuses on the stories of ordinary Americans—from fishermen in Florida to families in Montana, to a young internet entrepreneur in Massachusetts and more—who have had to navigate the complexities of the nation’s legal system. Justice Gorsuch will also share with students interesting details from his career, the important role played by the judiciary, and what it’s like to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.
• Constitution 101 Curriculum:  Breaks down the major debates at the Constitutional Convention.
• Constitutional Role of Judges: An Exchange Between Justice Breyer and Justice Scalia: A C-SPAN exchange on the constitutional role of judges.
• Conversation with Opal Lee: Juneteenth and the Constitution: Watch Ms. Opal Lee, the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” for a special Constitution Day celebration exploring themes of freedom, equality, and storytelling through video, portraiture, and interactive discussions.
• Scholar Exchange Video: Constitution Day With Justice Gorsuch: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch discusses the importance of Constitution Day and his career in a student town hall.
• Video Lesson: Tour of Signers’ Hall and an Introduction to the Constitutional Convention: Explore the Constitutional Convention through a video tour of the National Constitution Center’s Signers’ Hall, where life-size statues of the Founding Fathers stand.

LISTEN

• YouTube: Why Do We Have A Constitution?

• PODCASTS

  • Benjamin Franklin and the Constitution:  Reflect on Franklin’s contributions to the U.S. Constitution and its lasting legacy.
  • The Founders’ Library - What were the key texts, authors, and sources the framers looked to when drafting the Constitution? Scholars Richard Albert of the University of Texas at Austin, Jonathan Gienapp of Stanford University, and Colleen Sheehan of Arizona State University explore what books were on the shelves of founders like James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, and where some of the ideas behind the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution came from, in a conversation moderated by National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. They discuss the influence of ancient and contemporaneous philosophers, thinkers, and writers—including Plutarch, Aristotle, Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Barthélemy, John Locke, Emer de Vattel, William Blackstone, David Hume, and more.
  • Founding Stories of America’s Founding Documents:  Explore the key moments in the creation of America’s founding documents, from the Declaration of Independence to the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.
  • George Washington’s Constitutional Legacy
  • The Words That Made Us: Preeminent legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School, host of the America’s Constitution podcast, joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the big constitutional questions confronted by early Americans, as described in Amar's groundbreaking new book, The Words That Made Us: America's Constitutional Conversation, 1760-1840.

READ

• Blog Post: On this day, the Constitution was signed in Philadelphia
• Blog Post: 10 reasons why America’s first constitution failed
• Educational Resource: 10 Facts about the Constitution - Learn lesser-known facts about the Constitution and its development.
• Educational Resource: Biographies of the Signers  - Explore the lives of the individuals who played a key role in crafting the U.S. Constitution.
• Essay: The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Revolution in Government by Richard R. Beeman - Richard R. Beeman explores the revolutionary government changes that emerged from the convention.
• Essay: The Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights by Jeffrey Rosen and David Rubenstein

RESEARCH

• The Library of Congress American Memory site provides numerous resources on the Constitution. These two links provide access: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html
• Website - National Archives: America's Founding Documents: The National Archives offers access to the Charters of Freedom, which consists of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

 

REFLECT

• The National Endowment for the Humanities provides content on the Constitution through the EDSITEMENT web site: http://edsitement.neh.gov/constitution-day

ENGAGE and ACT

• Calendar of Events:  National Constitution Center’s annual Constitution Day celebration is the biggest Constitution Day celebration in the country—and a great way to kick off the academic year!  - Featured Constitution Day Programming can be found here.
• Census Bureau's Statistics in Schools Program: Explore Constitution Day activities designed to help educators and students engage with the principles of the Constitution
• Launch of the Constitution 101 Student Course - Presented by the National Constitution Center and Khan Academy – Join National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen and Khan Academy founder Sal Khan for the launch of our Constitution 101 student course developed in partnership with the Khan Academy. This student-mastery course is designed to empower students with a deeper understanding of the Constitution and its impact on their lives.
• National Archives Activities: Access lesson plans, classroom resources, and educational materials that bring Constitution Day to life for students and teachers alike.
• National History Education Clearinghouse: Find teaching resources and special highlights about the U.S. Constitution and how to incorporate them into classroom activities

LEARN

• Preamble Scramble:  Have fun getting to know the phrases of the Preamble while you unscramble the puzzle.
• Name that Founder at the Constitutional Convention: Quiz yourself and test how much you know about the delegates at the Constitutional Convention.

As we commemorate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, we encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the powerful legacy of this document and the rights and responsibilities it guarantees for all U.S. citizens. Whether through reading, watching, or participating in discussions, you can explore the Constitution’s enduring relevance in our lives today.

The U.S. Constitution has been the cornerstone of our nation's democracy for over 230 years. It remains as vital today as it was in 1787, shaping the everyday lives of millions of Americans. On this Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, let us come together to honor this historic document, reflect on its significance, and recommit ourselves to the values and freedoms it protects.