Live at the National Constitution Center
Live constitutional conversations and debates featuring leading historians, journalists, scholars, and public officials hosted at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and across America. To watch National Constitution Center Town Halls live, check out our schedule of upcoming programs at constitutioncenter.org/townhall. Register through Zoom to ask your constitutional questions in the Q&A or watch live on YouTube at YouTube.com/ConstitutionCenter.
1
America’s Most Consequential Elections: From FD...
A conversation with authors Michael Gerhardt and Andrew Busch comparing these pivotal presidencies
61 min
2
The Legacy of Emmett Till: From Tragedy to Acti...
Janai Nelson of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund joins scholar Ronald Collins to discuss Collins' new book on the shocking story of the trial that followed Emmett Till's murder and its impact on the Civil Rights Movement.
59 min
3
Justice Stephen Breyer on Reading the Constitution
Why Justice Breyer chose pragmatism, not textualism
65 min
4
Lincoln’s Lessons: Then and Now
Acclaimed Lincoln historians Sidney Blumenthal and Harold Holzer assess Lincoln’s life and legacy to unveil remarkable similarities between the 19th century and today.
61 min
5
Democracy Checkup: Preparing for the 2024 Election
Legal experts Richard Hasen, Sarah Isgur, and Lawrence Lessig provide a health check on the state of American democracy in the run-up to the 2024 election.
59 min
6
The Pursuit of Happiness: A Book Launch and Con...
A Presidents Day Book Launch
65 min
7
Following Tubman’s Trail: Unveiling Stories of ...
In celebration of Black History Month, historians Edda Fields-Black and James Oakes explore the history of the African American fight for freedom during the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.
60 min
8
Constitution Drafting Project: A Discussion of ...
The Center for Constitutional Design at Arizona State University and the National Constitution Center present a discussion on the NCC’s landmark Constitution Drafting Project, featuring members of the drafting teams: Caroline Fredrickson of team progressive, Timothy Sandefur of team libertarian, and Ilan Wurman of team conservative.
56 min
9
David Hume and the Ideas That Shaped America
Scholars explore the Scottish philosopher David Hume, his philosophical legacy, and his profound impact on shaping the nation.
59 min
10
Unpacking the Supreme Court’s Tech Term
Legal experts Alex Abdo, Clay Calvert, and David Greene explore key tech cases before the Supreme Court and important questions at the intersection of technology and law.
58 min
11
Loyalists vs. Patriots and the American Revolution
Historians Joyce Lee Malcolm and Eli Merritt explore the differing opinions of Loyalist and Patriots and how both groups continue to shape our understanding of American identity.
61 min
12
The Taft Court: Making Law for a Divided Nation
Legal scholar Robert Post explores the history of the Taft Court and the contrasting constitutional approaches among its justices, including Louis Brandeis and Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., among others.
58 min
13
From Spies to Leakers: The History of the Espio...
Legal scholar Heidi Kitrosser and political historian Sam Lebovic discuss one of the most contentious statutes relating to the First Amendment and how it has been used over time.
64 min
14
Democracy, Populism, and the Tyranny of the Min...
Political scientists Frances Lee of Princeton University, Steven Levitsky of Harvard University, and Kurt Weyland of the University of Texas at Austin, explore some of the new theories and approaches to the challenges facing American democracy in 2023 and beyond.
62 min
15
What the Black Intellectual Tradition Can Teach...
New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and political scientist Melvin Rogers explore the ways key African American intellectuals and artist reimagined U.S. democracy.
65 min
16
From Founders to Politicians: Political Divisio...
Historians Carol Berkin and H.W. Brands explore the hotly contested election of 1800, political partisanship, and nationalism in early America.
61 min
17
Native Peoples and Redefining U.S. History
Historians Ned Blackhawk and Brenda Child shed light on the central role Indigenous peoples have played in shaping our nation’s narrative.
58 min
18
From FDR to Biden: The Creation of the Modern P...
Presidency experts Stephen Knott, Sidney Milkis, and Barbara Perry explore how the institution of the modern presidency has evolved.
61 min
19
The Forgotten Years of the Civil Rights Movement
Prize-winning historians Kate Masur and Dylan Penningroth discuss their latest books exploring the hidden histories behind the struggle for justice and equality.
60 min
20
How to Interpret the Constitution: A Citizen’s ...
Bestselling author Cass Sunstein unveils his new book with leading constitutional expert Philip Bobbit to discuss the current controversies surrounding constitutional interpretation.
54 min
21
The History of Religious Liberty in America
A live Constitution Day 2023 edition of America’s Town Hall examines the history of religious liberty
63 min
22
National First Amendment Summit
National First Amendment Summit, which was held at the National Constitution Center on September 13, 2023
157 min
23
2023 Annual Supreme Court Review
The National Constitution Center and ADL host legal experts and court watchers to discuss the most significant decisions of the term.
87 min
24
Montesquieu and the Constitution
Political theorists explore the influence of Montesquieu on American democracy.
61 min
25
The Modern History of Originalism
Libertarian and conservative experts discuss the modern development of originalism
58 min