National Archives to Explore “The Bill of Rights in the 21st Century” December 15
Press Release · Thursday, December 8, 2016

Washington, DC

To honor of the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights, on Thursday, December 15, at 7 p.m., the National Archives will present a special program titled: “The Bill of Rights in the 21st Century.”  A distinguished panel of judges will discuss how the Bill of Rights affects Americans in modern times, and the impact of technology.  Moderated by journalist Jess Bravin from the Wall Street Journal, panelists include Judge Thomas Griffith, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; Judge Patricia Millett, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; and Judge Andre M. Davis, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Presented in partnership with the the Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource).

The event will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. and live streamed on YouTube. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW. Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. For upcoming programs, see the Calendar of Events online.

This program is free to the public, but reservations are recommended and can be made online. For those without reservations, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program. Late seating will not be permitted 20 minutes after the program begins.

Bill of Rights Day, December 15, commemorates the ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. This year the National Archives is celebrating this historic anniversary with a number of special events. Visit our Bill of Rights 225 page for more information.

Related Exhibits at the National Archives Museum

The Charters of Freedom: Our Nation’s Founding Documents

The original Bill of Rights is on display in the National Archives Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Charters of Freedom: Our Nation’s Founding Documents takes a fresh look at these founding documents, and uses National Archives’ holdings to answer two key questions: “How did they happen?” and “Why are they important?”

Amending America

Only 27 times—out of more than 11,000 proposals—have Americans reached consensus to amend the Constitution. “Amending America” reveals the stories behind why some proposed amendments successfully became part of the Constitution, while others failed to get enough support. Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery, through September 4, 2017.