Conversations on National Security and the Constitution
The Division for Public Education is pleased to partner with Oxford University Press in offering this companion guide to Judge Richard Posner's new book, Not a Suicide Pact: The Constitution in a Time of National Emergency. This book is the first in a new series on Inalienable Rights published by Oxford University Press. Not a Suicide Pact explores how we might strike a balance between security concerns and constitutionally protected civil liberties in the face of the threat of terrorism.
The companion guide will be distributed at a series of public programs featuring Judge Posner and University of Chicago Professor Geoffrey Stone, editor of the Inalienable Rights series, scheduled for the National Archives, the National Constitution Center, and the Chicago Humanities Festival.
Download your free copy of the Not a Suicide Pact companion guide.
ABA Dialogue on the Separation of Powers
The latest addition to the ABA's popular Dialogue series looks at the three branches of government, focusing on the principles and conflicts that define the system of separation of powers established by the United States Constitution. Use this Dialogue in high school classrooms or community groups to explore fundamental aspect of our system of government.
Inside Dialogue on the Separation of Powers you will find
- A discussion of where the concept of separation of powers comes from and the forms it takes in our Constitution and other democracies
- A look at current points of conflict between the branches, including judicial review, the advice and consent power of the senate, war powers, and executive privilege
- An activity that uses a classic American poem, Robert Frost's "Mending Wall," to explore different perspectives on what separation of powers means
- Dialogue on Separation of Powers
- ABA Dialogues Main Page—Be sure to check out the other titles in this series
Conversations on the Constitution
Our Constitution offers a framework for addressing challenges in the nation's political life. Conversations on the Constitution is a new program of the ABA Division for Public Education to encourage civil discussion and debate about the meaning of some of the Constitution's concepts and clauses that have been the subject of ongoing constitutional debates.
Educational institutions receiving federal funds must hold educational programs about the Constitution on September 17—Constitution Day. The authorizing legislation, sponsored by Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), also requires federal agencies to hold Constitution programs on Constitution Day. The ABA Division for Public Education offers Conversations on the Constitution in service to the nation for its Constitution commemoration and education efforts.
For topics, conversation starters, quizzes, and more, visit Conversations on the Constitution.
Conversations on Law & Liberty in Times of Crisis
Click on the graphic above to visit Conversations on Law & Liberty or use the text link here.
National Online Youth Summit
The National Online Youth Summit is a project that encourages young people to think critically about a timely legal public policy issue. High school classes across the nation are selected each year to give students an opportunity to learn about legal and policy issues with peers and policy resource persons. This program is supported by a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
Previous summit topics have included:
- The American Jury
- The Future of Capital Punishment
- Race, Ethnicity and the American Criminal Justice System
- Access Denied, R-Rating, V-Chip: Should Youth Access to the Internet be Restricted?
Raising the Bar: Pioneers in the Legal Profession
You'll learn about people you may already have heard of (like Thurgood Marshall) and may even meet a few you didn't know before (such as John Rock)! Highlights include features for Black History Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, and more.
Click on the banner link below to visit Pioneers in the Legal Profession.
