Celebrate Constitution Day with the National Archives (virtually)
Press Release · Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Washington, DC

The National Archives celebrates the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution with special virtual programs for all ages, including book talks,  public programs, and interactive webinars. The National Archives is the permanent home of the original Constitution. Constitution Day celebrates the signing of this landmark document in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. These programs are free, but advanced registration is encouraged. Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern time. See our special Celebrating Constitution Day page for additional public programs and online resources.

Constitution Day and related programs

The Electoral College and the Constitution
September 17 at noon, Reserve a Seat, View on the National Archives YouTube Channel
Every four years in December, 538 electors cast their ballots for President and make official what America’s voters decided on election day in November. Are electors bound by their state’s majority vote? Has this system, created over 200 years ago as a compromise between Congress electing the President or election via popular vote, outlived its purpose? Should the President be elected by the Electoral College or the national popular vote, and is a current movement by some states to circumvent the Electoral College therefore unconstitutional? Panelists include Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Former Member of Congress Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Georgetown professor of law Anthony Cook, and others. Presented in partnership with the Association of Former Members of Congress. Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero will introduce the program.

OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say? A Non-Boring Guide to How Our Democracy Is Supposed to Work
September 17, at 5 pm, Reserve a Seat, View on YouTube
Political savant and entertainment veteran Ben Sheehan provides an entertaining and accessible guide that explains what the Constitution actually says in modern-day English. Ben Sheehan is a former award-winning executive producer at Funny Or Die. He founded OMG WTF (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida) to teach voters about state executive races during the 2018 midterms. Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero will introduce the program.

“George to George” Shaping the Nation by our Constitution
Facebook Live, George H.W. Bush Presidential Library, September 14, 16 and 18, 10 am CST
Constitutional Law expert Thomas Borcher examines how The Constitution was created    and how it established the three branches of the U.S. Government. He examines the ways in which the Constitution shaped the presidencies of  our 1st President, George Washington, and    our    41st, George H.W. Bush. September 14th program online here.

The 2020 General Election: Public Policy Implications in January 2021
September 23, at 3 pm, will be live-streamed 
The National Archives at Kansas City, in partnership with Park University, present a special program: “The 2020 U.S. General Election: Public Policy Implications in January 2021.” Park University assistant professors of political science Matt Harris and Jack Adam MacLennan will discuss the importance of the upcoming November election in terms of public policy and will address how the Constitution provides a framework for these implications. 

Educator Webinar: Teaching the Charters of Freedom 
September 16 at 7 pm 
Join us for a hands-on session and discover resources for teaching the founding documents of the United States. Discover a model you can use to introduce your students to the Charters of Freedom, and access primary sources that can help students connect the big ideas of these landmark documents to their own lives. Register online. Also available as a by-request program.

Constitution Day Webinar –The Charters of Freedom: Building a More Perfect Union
September 17 at 2 pm
This free, interactive webinar is presented in partnership with the Presidential Primary Sources Project. Aimed at students grades 3-6. More information online. 

Related Online Resources for Students and Educators:

• Get Ready for Constitution Day!
• Bring the Constitution to Life! - DocsTeach page highlighting related educational resources

The National Archives, permanent home to the original Constitution, is an independent Federal agency that preserves and shares with the public records that trace the story of our nation, government, and the American people. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries, and online at www.archives.gov.