James Madisons Montpelier We The People Spring 2015 | Page 15

SPRING 2015

nter for the Constitution

AT HOME AND ABROAD

Magna Carta:
From King John to James Madison
In anticipation of Great Britain’s commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta, His Royal
Highness Prince Charles recently visited the National Archives in Washington, D.C. to view some of the
world’s most important founding documents, including the U.S. Constitution and America’s only copy of
Magna Carta. During his tour, the Prince had the opportunity to talk with Doug Smith, vice president of
the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution, about James Madison’s role as Father of the Constitution
and the enduring legacy of Magna Carta.
Prince Charles also met with 30 young international leaders participating in a Magna Carta Conference
hosted by the Presidential Precinct, a consortium of universities and historic sites including Montpelier. Just
feet from one of the few surviving copies of Magna Carta, lawyers and judges from around the world discussed
how the spirit of Magna Carta continues to define good governance and rule of law on a global scale.

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