James Madison's Montpelier We the People Fall 2014 | Page 9

In remembrance of the signing of the U.S. Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the
duties and responsibilities of citizenship, Congress designated September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
In tribute to James Madison’s leadership as the Father of the Constitution, The Montpelier Foundation hosts two annual
events to commemorate this important day in our nation’s history.

(From left) Benjamin Wittes, Akhil Reed Amar,
Congressman Robert Hurt, and Doug Smith

is the constitution still working?

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n collaboration with the National Archives, the Robert
H. Smith Center for the Constitution hosted the eighth
annual State of the Constitution Lecture in Washington,
D.C. on Constitution Day, September 17. Congressman
Robert Hurt of Virginia; Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor
of Law at Yale University; and Benjamin Wittes, Senior
Fellow in Governance Studies of the Brookings Institution,
participated in a panel discussion that was moderated
by Doug Smith, Vice President of the Center. The lecture
provided historical context about the Constitution while
considering the impact of rapid globalization and sociopolitical circumstances of the present day that challenge
constitutional ideals and effective governance.

Constitution Day Celebration

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n Saturday, September 20, nearly 4,000 people visited
the grounds of Montpelier to celebrate the Constitution
with an afternoon of music, food, children’s games, mansion
tours, and the Taste of Freedom Wine Festival.
At the event, Devils Backbone Brewing Company, one of
Virginia’s most acclaimed local craft breweries, launched
the Madison-inspired Ambition Ale, which is now available
on draft at the Exchange Café in the Montpelier Visitor
Center and select pubs in the area. Ambition Ale will be
the first in a series of beers the brewery plans to unveil as
Montpelier’s Best. Cheers!

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND
THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!
The Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution has launched two online courses entitled “Constitutional Amendment:
the Bill of Rights” and “Constitutional Foundations,” with four additional courses available by the summer of 2015. The
expansion of the Center’s online programming allows students, teachers, law practitioners, policy makers, and YOU to
deepen your understanding about citizenship and self-government—and earn professional development credit if desired.
Visit montpelier.org/courses for details.

We The People

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