The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is marking Constitution Day on Sept. 17 with a full slate of public programming and by engaging with youth in classrooms across Lincoln Public Schools.
The Department of Political Science will host events focused on the U.S Constitution and contemporary constitutional issues on Sept. 17. The free event is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Swanson Auditorium at Nebraska Union. It will feature live oral arguments by the Nebraska Court of Appeals, followed by opportunities for students and members of the public to ask questions of the judges.
The court will hear oral arguments from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 1 to 2:10 p.m. Each session will be followed by a question-and-answer period with the judges.
The day will conclude with a panel discussion, “Can the First Amendment Adapt to Artificial Intelligence?” Legal scholars will examine how constitutional principles apply to AI-generated expression, including questions involving speech, authorship and constitutional protections.
From Sept. 14-18, students from Nebraska's College of Law will lead Constitution explorations with hundreds of eighth graders at Pound, Lefler, Lux, Scott, Culler, Irving and Mickle middle schools in Lincoln.
Constitution Day is a federal observance held each year on Sept. 17. The date commemorates the 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution and is intended to promote constitutional awareness and civic engagement.
The oral arguments are sponsored by the university's Department of Political Science, Nebraska Bar Foundation and Nebraska Court of Appeals. The First Amendment and artificial intelligence panel is sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the university's Artificial Intelligence Institute.
