We The People Podcasts

As the Supreme Court of the United States concluded its 2010-2011 session, the National Constitution Center welcomed veteran Supreme Court correspondent Lyle Denniston to give a lunchtime talk about the most significant rulings of the term and how these decisions impact the lives of Americans. He also analyzed how the Court's new justices have changed the institution. Program recorded on 7/6/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The Ninth Annual John M. Templeton, Jr. Lecture on Economic Liberties and the Constitution considers how the Constitution addresses government regulation and relies on competition as a method of political organization. Keynote speaker Christopher DeMuth, D.C. Searle Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, explores the laws and regulations that can inhibit economic liberty and examine the boundaries between the Constitution’s explicit and implicit guarantees of competition, which have been contested throughout our political history. Michael L. Wachter, William B. Johnson Professor of Law and Economics and Co-Director, Institute for Law and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, provides the response to Mr. DeMuth's presentation. Daniel Gross, economics editor and columnist at Yahoo! Finance, facilitated the conversation. Program recorded on 6/16/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The Ninth Annual John M. Templeton, Jr. Lecture on Economic Liberties and the Constitution considers how the Constitution addresses government regulation and relies on competition as a method of political organization. Keynote speaker Christopher DeMuth, D.C. Searle Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, explores the laws and regulations that can inhibit economic liberty and examine the boundaries between the Constitution’s explicit and implicit guarantees of competition, which have been contested throughout our political history. Michael L. Wachter, William B. Johnson Professor of Law and Economics and Co-Director, Institute for Law and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, provides the response to Mr. DeMuth's presentation. Daniel Gross, economics editor and columnist at Yahoo! Finance, facilitated the conversation. Program recorded on 6/16/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Thomas E. Mills, Acting Deputy Archivist of the United States, joins The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Bill Marimow for a conversation about issues of government transparency, state secrets, classification and access to government documents and information. How transparent should government be? Can there be limits in our democracy on citizens’ right to information? Is access to information a right? What can citizens do to make the government more open with its information and resources? Program recorded on 5/3/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Thomas E. Mills, Acting Deputy Archivist of the United States, joins The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Bill Marimow for a conversation about issues of government transparency, state secrets, classification and access to government documents and information. How transparent should government be? Can there be limits in our democracy on citizens’ right to information? Is access to information a right? What can citizens do to make the government more open with its information and resources? Program recorded on 5/3/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

1861: The Civil War Awakening, Adam Goodheart’s new book, is an epic of courage and heroism beyond the battlefields. Marking the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War, Goodheart joined the Center to share the gripping account of how the Civil War began. Dr. Richard R. Beeman, the John Welsh Centennial Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, facilitated the conversation. Program recorded on 4/13/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

1861: The Civil War Awakening, Adam Goodheart’s new book, is an epic of courage and heroism beyond the battlefields. Marking the sesquicentennial of the start of the Civil War, Goodheart joined the Center to share the gripping account of how the Civil War began. Dr. Richard R. Beeman, the John Welsh Centennial Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, facilitated the conversation. Program recorded on 4/13/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Is there a conflict between national security and civil liberties? Fox 29’s Vice President and General Manager Patrick Paolini moderates a discussion on the challenge of securing our nation while maintaining our constitutional balance in times of crisis. Former National Security Advisor and National Constitution Center Visiting Scholar Richard Allen and University of Pennsylvania Law professor Deborah Pearlstein share their experience. This program is a special presentation in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and in conjunction with the Center's exhibition, Spies, Traitors & Saboteurs: Fear and Freedom in America. Program recorded on 5/09/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Former U.S. Representative Lee H. Hamilton (D-IN), John G. Palfrey, Jr., Professor of Law and Vice Dean for Library and Information Resources at Harvard Law School, and Keli A. Carender, political activist and blogger credited with starting the Tea Party movement, discuss the future of civility in our democracy in the midst of our nation's ongoing debate about the inflamed state of political discourse. This program is presented as part of “Can We Talk? A Conversation about Civility and Democracy in America,” partially funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Bridging Cultures program. Program recorded on 3/26/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center and PBS hosted an advanced look at the upcoming documentary film, “Prohibition,” directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, scheduled to air on PBS this coming fall. The screening of highlights from the film and audience Q&A represented the opening event of “Can We Talk? A Conversation about Civility and Democracy in America” that took place at the Center March 25 through March 27, 2011 with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Program recorded on 3/25/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center and PBS hosted an advanced look at the upcoming documentary film, “Prohibition,” directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, scheduled to air on PBS this coming fall. The screening of highlights from the film and audience Q&A represented the opening event of “Can We Talk? A Conversation about Civility and Democracy in America” that took place at the Center March 25 through March 27, 2011 with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Program recorded on 3/25/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

More and more, Americans are driven to careers that connect us to the social challenges of our time. How are we shifting from jobs to “encore careers” that embrace civic engagement? Renowned social entrepreneur Marc Freedman addresses these issues as he kicks off his book tour at the Center in support of The Big Shift. In a conversation with National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner, Freedman discusses the challenge of transitioning to and making the most of this new stage, which he believes is an urgent social imperative. He urges people to rethink their civic connections and to do work that matters, helping Americans realize the vision of the founders – an engaged citizenry. Program recorded on 4/5/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Putting the 14th Amendment to the Test explores whether the language of the 14th Amendment should be modified, left in its present state, or reinterpreted to deny citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants. Jeff Greenfield, senior political correspondent for CBS News, moderates this timely program addressing the issue of immigration reform and birthright citizenship with Fellows of the Peter Jennings Project and distinguished guests John C. Eastman, Daryl Metcalfe, Jorge Mursuli, Marjorie Rendell, and Cecillia Wang. Program recorded on 3/5/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

Putting the 14th Amendment to the Test explores whether the language of the 14th Amendment should be modified, left in its present state, or reinterpreted to deny citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants. Jeff Greenfield, senior political correspondent for CBS News, moderates this timely program addressing the issue of immigration reform and birthright citizenship with Fellows of the Peter Jennings Project and distinguished guests John C. Eastman, Daryl Metcalfe, Jorge Mursuli, Marjorie Rendell, and Cecillia Wang. Program recorded on 3/5/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org

WPHT Talk Radio 1210 AM’s Dom Giordano and National Constitution Center President and CEO David Eisner hosted this live, public forum on the priorities for the 112th Congress with members of the U.S. House Chaka Fattah (D-PA/2), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA/8), Jim Gerlach (R-PA/6), Pat Meehan (R-PA/7) and John Runyan (R-NJ/3). Program recorded on 2/21/11. Questions or comments? Write: programs@constitutioncenter.org