The National Archives Commemorates Constitution Day on July 13, 2005
The National Archives in Washington, D.C. is set to celebrate Constitution Day this September with a series of thought-provoking events aimed at deepening public understanding of constitutional principles in the digital age.
One of the highlights of the celebrations is the program "Blogging: Free Press for All or Free-for-All?" scheduled for Thursday, September 22 at 7 p.m. in the National Archives William G. McGowan Theater. This discussion will address the impact of high-speed communications, instantaneous news, and public expectations of quick results on basic constitutional principles.
On the same day, a program titled "Checks and Balances in the Age of Instant Messaging: A Congressional Perspective" will be held at 7:00 P.M. The discussion will be moderated by presidential historian Michael Beschloss and will feature members of Congress, including House Majority Whip Roy Blunt and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.
The panel discussion "Copyright, the Constitution, and the Crisis in Historical Documentary Film" will be held on Friday, September 23 at 7 pm in the National Archives William G. McGowan Theater.
The National Archives' celebrations also include educational programs. U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer will discuss the Constitution with high school students at the Supreme Court, and the program will be filmed and edited into a classroom-ready 45-minute program. Charlene Bickford and Dr. Kenneth Bowling will speak about the First Federal Congress and the Constitution on Wednesday, September 21 at noon in the National Archives Jefferson Room.
The events extend beyond one day and reach thousands of citizens, teachers, and students nationwide. The Constitution Day presentations learning materials will be available on the National Archives web site and the Justice Learning site.
The celebrations also feature a live broadcast of NPR's Justice Talking, hosted by Margot Adler, on Friday, September 16 at 1:30 P.M., discussing "Free Speech in the Digital Age."
Moreover, the exhibition "A New World Is at Hand" will be on display, featuring a selection of the National Archives' most treasured documents, including George Washington's own working copy of the first printed draft of the constitution. The exhibition is located near the permanent display of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
The 1297 Magna Carta will also be on display starting Friday, September 16. Only four originals of the 1297 Magna Carta remain, and the one on display was purchased by the Perot Foundation in 1984 and is on indefinite loan to the National Archives.
The film "The American Constitution: The Road from Runnymede" will be shown on Saturday, September 17 at 12 noon in the National Archives William G. McGowan Theater.
The programs are made possible with the generous support of the Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, Inc., and the Foundation for the National Archives. The celebrations are co-sponsored by several organizations, including the New York Times Knowledge Network, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the National Constitution Center.
By integrating constitutional education with current technology-related discussions, the National Archives' Constitution Day celebrations deepen understanding of the Constitution’s adaptability and ongoing importance in governing a digital society. These events encourage reflection on how constitutional checks and balances operate when information spreads instantly and platforms like instant messaging impact public discourse and government transparency.
Education and self-development opportunities are offered through specialized programs during the Constitution Day celebrations at The National Archives. On Thursday, September 22, a discussion titled "Copyright, the Constitution, and the Crisis in Historical Documentary Film" will delve into learning about the impact of copyright issues on historical documentary films.
As part of these educational programs, U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Stephen Breyer will engage with high school students, with the conversation being edited into a classroom-ready resource for further learning.
