We the People

The National Constitution Center recently published The Promise of America: Reflections on Our Enduring Ideals (Simon & Schuster), a keepsake collection of essays bringing together leading thinkers from across perspectives to reflect on the ideals at the heart of the American experiment and what those principles have meant across generations of American life. In this episode, Professor David Armitage discusses his essay, “The Declaration’s Influence Around the World,” which explores the document’s international legacy as a powerful blueprint for collective rights and national self-determination, and its ever-evolving domestic legacy as a touchstone for individual rights and human equality. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

Resources 

David Armitage, “The Declaration’s Influence Around the World” 

National Constitution Center, The Declaration of Independence 

Lemuel Haynes, “Liberty Further Extended” (1776) 


Vermont Declaration of Independence (1777) 


French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789) 


Haitian Declaration of Independence (1804) 


Venezuelan Declaration of Independence (1811) 


Greek Declaration of Independence (1822) 


Belgian Declaration of Independence (1830) 


New Zealand Declaration of Independence (1835) 


Texas Declaration of Independence (1836) 


Liberia Declaration of Independence (1847) 


Declaration of Sentiments (1848) 


Hungary Declaration of Independence (1849) 


Proclamation of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (1945) 


Israel Declaration of Independence (1948) 


Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) 


Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Southern Rhodesia (1965) 


The Black Declaration of Independence (1970) 


Kosovo Declaration of Independence (2008) 

Stay Connected and Learn More

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr

Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate

Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen

Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our important work

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

In this episode, Michael Auslin joins to discuss his new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America, a sweeping and vivid history of the Declaration of Independence from its drafting to its enduring role in American life today. Tracing the remarkable journey of this iconic document—from a Philadelphia boarding house to wartime hiding places and its place as a national symbol—Auslin explores how its ideals of liberty and equality have inspired generations and continue to shape the American experiment. Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

This program was streamed live on May 6, 2026, as part of the NCC's Book Club Series. 

Resources 

Michael Auslin, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America (2026)

National Constitution Center, Interactive Declaration of Independence

Stay Connected and Learn More

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr

Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate

Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen

Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our important work

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

In this episode, Jonathan Adler of William & Mary Law School and Stephen Vladeck of Georgetown University Law Center explore a part of the Supreme Court’s work that has drawn growing public attention: its emergency, or “shadow,” docket. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

Resources

Jonathan Adler, “Reading the Clean Power Plan "Shadow Papers" in Context,” The Volokh Conspiracy (April 22, 2026) 

Jonathan Adler, “Mifepristone Returns to the Shadow Docket,” The Volokh Conspiracy (May 3, 2026) 

Stephen Vladeck, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic (2024) 

Stephen Vladeck, “Chief Justice Roberts and the Clean Power Plan,” OneFirst (April 20, 2026) 


City of Los Angeles v. Lyons (1983) 


Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) 


Winter v. NRDC (2008) 


West Virginia v. EPA (2016) 


Biden v. Texas (2022) 


United States v. Texas (2023) 


FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (2024) 


Trump v. CASA (2024) 


NIH v. American Public Health Association (2025)

Stay Connected and Learn More

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr

Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate

Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen

Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our important work

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

On April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court invalidated a Louisiana congressional map, holding that racial considerations cannot predominate in the drawing of electoral districts. The ruling narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by requiring plaintiffs to show intentional discrimination, not just discriminatory effects. In this episode, we explore the Court’s 6-3 decision and what it means for the future of the Voting Rights Act with two leading election law scholars: Edward Foley of The Ohio State University and Michael Morley of Florida State University College of Law. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

Resources 

Edward Foley, “The Supreme Court’s indefensible evisceration of the Voting Rights Act,” SCOTUSblog, May 5, 2026 

Michael Morley, “Voting Rights Case Sets Stage for 2050’s Multiracial Democracy,” Bloomberg Law, May 6, 2026 


Louisiana v. Callais (2026) 


Allen v. Milligan (2023)  


Robinson v. Ardoin (2022) 


Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) 


Shelby County v. Holder (2013) 


Thornburg v. Gingles (1986) 


Voting Rights Act (1965) 

National Constitution Center, “The Supreme Court’s Callais decision sets new framework for racial gerrymandering” (April 30, 2026) 

National Constitution Center, Voting Rights Classroom Resources 

National Constitution Center, Elections and Voting in the Constitution (Constitution 101 Curriculum)

Stay Connected and Learn More

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr

Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate

Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen

Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our important work

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

Sarah Isgur joins for a conversation on her new book, Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court. Drawing on history, law, and current debates, Sarah Isgur offers an engaging look at the Supreme Court, exploring its unique role in American democracy, how the Court became the nation’s “last branch standing,” and what its growing power means for the future of the Constitution. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

 

This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC’s Book Club series on April 27, 2026. 

 

Resources 

Sarah Isgur, Last Branch Standing: A Potentially Surprising, Occasionally Witty Journey Inside Today's Supreme Court (2026) 


Civic Parenting, a new podcast from the National Constitution Center

Stay Connected and Learn More

Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr

Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate

Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen

Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Support our important work

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate