Bill of Rights Institute
Encyclopedia
Bill of Rights Institute (the Institute) is a non-profit organization located in Arlington, Virginia, which produces instructional materials and conducts educational programs around the United States for teachers and students. It is a 501(c)(3) organization, a public charity.
According to the Bill of Rights Institute’s website, “The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America’s Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and share a free society. It is the goal of the Institute to help the next generation understand the freedom and opportunity the Constitution offers. “
after he saw that many high school teachers had inadequate resources to develop educational materials on the principles, institutions, and ideas upon which our country was founded. The Institute was launched in September 1999. Since that time they have reached over 1.8 million students with educational materials on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
.
, Dr. Gordon Lloyd, and Dr. H.W. Perry, Jr. among others. Through their teacher programs the Institute has reached on over 17,000 teachers. Seminars are often held at historic sites such as George Washington
’s Mount Vernon
or James Madison
’s Montpelier
. The Institute also co-sponsors programs with Liberty Fund
.
Religious Liberty: The American Experiment (2010);
Presidents and the Constitution, Vols. I (2009) & II (2010);
Property Rights in America: Yours, Mine, or Ours? (2009);
Being an American: Exploring the Ideals that Unite Us (2004) & Second Edition (2008);
Supreme Court DBQs: Exploring the Cases That Changed History (2007);
Celebrate the Constitution: Why Do We Need a Constitution? (2007);
Conflict and Continuity: The Story of American Freedom (2006);
Faces of Freedom In American History (2006);
The Bill of Rights and You: Rights and Responsibilities (2006);
The Bill of Rights for Real Life (2005);
Media and American Democracy (2005);
Founders and the Constitution: In their Own Words, Vols. I (2004) & II (2005);
Citizenship and Character: Understanding America’s Civic Values (2003);
on September 17 and Bill of Rights Day on December 15.
Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Clarence Thomas
John Stossel
, leading journalist Juan Williams
and Judge Andrew Napolitano
, and Antawn Jamison
.
Other student programs run by the Institute include the Constitutional Academy which is an in depth six-week study of the Constitution.
According to the Bill of Rights Institute’s website, “The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America’s Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and share a free society. It is the goal of the Institute to help the next generation understand the freedom and opportunity the Constitution offers. “
History
The Institute was founded by billionaire industrialist and libertarian philanthropist Charles G. KochCharles G. Koch
Charles de Ganahl Koch is co-owner, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Industries Inc., the second-largest privately held company by revenue in the United States according to a 2010 Forbes survey...
after he saw that many high school teachers had inadequate resources to develop educational materials on the principles, institutions, and ideas upon which our country was founded. The Institute was launched in September 1999. Since that time they have reached over 1.8 million students with educational materials on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Bill of rights
A bill of rights is a list of the most important rights of the citizens of a country. The purpose of these bills is to protect those rights against infringement. The term "bill of rights" originates from England, where it referred to the Bill of Rights 1689. Bills of rights may be entrenched or...
.
Professional development
The Bill of Rights Institute runs educational programs for educators around the country. The Institute conducted 64 constitutional seminars in the 2010–2011 school year. Seminars include instruction from a university professor and training by an Institute master teacher. Institute professors include Todd ZywickiTodd Zywicki
Todd J. Zywicki is George Mason University Foundation Professor of Law at George Mason University School of Law, teaching in the areas of bankruptcy and contracts, where he has taught since 1998. He taught previously at the Mississippi College School of Law, where he held a faculty position from...
, Dr. Gordon Lloyd, and Dr. H.W. Perry, Jr. among others. Through their teacher programs the Institute has reached on over 17,000 teachers. Seminars are often held at historic sites such as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
’s Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon
The name Mount Vernon is a dedication to the English Vice-Admiral Edward Vernon. It was first applied to Mount Vernon, the Virginia estate of George Washington, the first President of the United States...
or James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
’s Montpelier
Montpelier
Montpelier or Montpellier is the name of several places:in Canada:* Montpellier, Quebec* Montpellier , a train station in Montreal, Canadain France:* Montpellier, a city in southern France** The University of Montpellierin Ireland:...
. The Institute also co-sponsors programs with Liberty Fund
Liberty Fund
Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It is dedicated to the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals...
.
Printed educational resources
The Founding Documents: A Three-Act Drama (2011);Religious Liberty: The American Experiment (2010);
Presidents and the Constitution, Vols. I (2009) & II (2010);
Property Rights in America: Yours, Mine, or Ours? (2009);
Being an American: Exploring the Ideals that Unite Us (2004) & Second Edition (2008);
Supreme Court DBQs: Exploring the Cases That Changed History (2007);
Celebrate the Constitution: Why Do We Need a Constitution? (2007);
Conflict and Continuity: The Story of American Freedom (2006);
Faces of Freedom In American History (2006);
The Bill of Rights and You: Rights and Responsibilities (2006);
The Bill of Rights for Real Life (2005);
Media and American Democracy (2005);
Founders and the Constitution: In their Own Words, Vols. I (2004) & II (2005);
Citizenship and Character: Understanding America’s Civic Values (2003);
Online educational resources
The Institute also provides online resources for teachers to use all throughout the year linked with current and historical events. They have lessons and games for Constitution DayConstitution Day
Constitution Day is a holiday to honor the constitution of a country. Constitution Day is often celebrated on the anniversary of the signing, promulgation or adoption of the constitution, or in some cases, to commemorate the change to constitutional monarchy:...
on September 17 and Bill of Rights Day on December 15.
Student programs
The Institute runs the largest high school essay contest in the country and has awarded over $500,000 in prizes to both students and teachers. Over 80,000 students in all 50 states have participated in the contest since 2006. Winners are flown to Washington, D.C. for an awards weekend including education programs and historic site visits. Individuals who have taken part in the awards weekend include Supreme CourtSupreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
John Stossel
John Stossel
John F. Stossel is an American consumer reporter, investigative journalist, author and libertarian columnist. In October 2009 Stossel left his long time home on ABC News to join the Fox Business Channel and Fox News Channel, both owned and operated by News Corp...
, leading journalist Juan Williams
Juan Williams
Juan Williams is an American journalist and political analyst for Fox News Channel, he was born in Panama on April 10, 1954. He also writes for several newspapers including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal and has been published in magazines such as The Atlantic...
and Judge Andrew Napolitano
Andrew Napolitano
Andrew Paolo Napolitano is a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge and now a political and legal analyst for Fox News Channel. Napolitano started on the channel in 1998, and currently serves as the network's senior judicial analyst, commenting on legal news and trials...
, and Antawn Jamison
Antawn Jamison
Antawn Cortez Jamison is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He currently plays power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers and was a member of the USA National Team for the 2006 FIBA World Championships...
.
Other student programs run by the Institute include the Constitutional Academy which is an in depth six-week study of the Constitution.