Visit the C-SPAN Mobile Site

Congress, Politics, Books
and American History

@cspan  
Congressional Chronicle
American History TV

Making our Democracy Work

Washington, DC
Monday, July 4, 2011

How can a document written in the 18th century apply to the legal problems of the 21st century?

What accounts for the persistent trust we have in the Constitution of the United States?

Justice Stephen Breyer examines these questions by looking at how the Supreme Court has worked to protect and uphold the Constitution throughout the history of the United States.

This lecture is part of the New-York Historical Society’s President Bill Clinton Lecture Series in American History and is about an hour.

Updated: Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 11:54am (ET)

Related Events

Justice Stephen Breyer on the Dred Scott Case
Sunday, July 18, 2010     New York City, NY

The Dred Scott case is one of the most infamous Supreme Court decisions in American history. In 1857, the court ruled in Dred Scott v. Sandford that all blacks, both slave and free, could not become citizens of the United States. Justice Stephen Breyer spoke about the case and it’s ramifications as a sitting Justice.

Bain Capital Takes Center Stage in Presidential Campaign
Today     Washington, DC

President Obama defended his campaign’s tactics against Mitt Romney's work at the private equity firm Bain Capital at a NATO news conference Monday.

NATO Summit Wraps Up With Press Conferences
Today     Washington, DC

The President wrapped up a long weekend of international diplomacy with a closing news conference Monday at the NATO Summit. Earlier Monday, the NATO Secretary General also spoke to the press.

Senate Hearing Examines Federal Government's Foreign Language Skills
Today     Washington, DC

A Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on the shortage of foreign language speakers in the federal government. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) chairs the hearing. 

Retired Supreme Court Justice Stevens Addresses Law Conference
Today     Washington, DC

Justice John Paul Stevens retired in 2010 after serving 35 years on the nation's highest court. Today, he addressed the annual meeting of the American Law Institute.

Conference Celebrates Successes of Small Businesses
Today     Washington, DC

The Small Business Administration hosted a conference focusing on the impact made by small business owners and American entrepreneurs.

Washington Journal for Monday, May 21
Sunday     Washington, DC

Our daily Live program provides a forum for leading journalists and public policy makers to discuss key events, and legislation.

President Obama Speaks at NATO Summit Opening Session
Sunday     Chicago, Illinois

More than 60 leaders of countries and organizations that work with NATO travelled to Chicago for a summit, which focuses heavily on military, humanitarian and financial aid in Afghanistan. President Obama delivered remarks Sunday at the opening plenary session.

Birthright Citizenship and the 14th Amendment
Sunday     Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From the Milwaukee meeting of the Organization of American Historians, Columbia University history professor Eric Foner and University of Iowa history professor Linda Kerber discuss the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the "birthright citizenship" provision.  The historians argue that birthright citizenship dramatically changed American history for the better, and that the provision is unique to the United States. Professor Kerber also discusses women's citizenship in U.S. History.

1862 & the 37th U.S. Congress
Sunday     Lincoln, Nebraska

Time Magazine Editor-at-Large David Von Drehle talks about 1862 and the 37th U.S. Congress.  While the Civil War was being fought, the 37th Congress passed the Homestead Act, the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, the Pacific Railway Act, the Revenue Acts, and established the U.S. Agriculture Department. The University of Nebraska in Lincoln hosted this event.

Share This Event Via Social Media
C-SPAN General in Transit Ad - Green