Episodes
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Built to Last
S1 E4 - 52m 40s
In this last episode, Sagal travels to Iceland, where after the country’s economic collapse, leaders decided to create a new constitution, looking to the U.S. Constitution for inspiration. This prompts Sagal to consider why our own founding document has lasted more than 225 years.
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Created Equal
S1 E3 - 53m 11s
The high ideals of the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” didn’t make it into the Constitution in 1787. It took three-quarters of a century, and a bloody civil war, before the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 made equality a constitutional right and gave the federal government the power to enforce it.
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It's a Free Country
S1 E2 - 53m 10s
Ask Americans what the Constitution’s most important feature is and most will say it’s the guarantees of liberty enshrined in the Bill of Rights. In this episode, Sagal explores the history of the Bill of Rights and addresses several stories — ripped from the headlines — involving freedom of speech, freedom of religion and right to privacy.
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A More Perfect Union
S1 E1 - 53m 10s
Breathing new life into the traditional civics lesson, Peter Sagal (host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me”) travels across the country on a Harley Davidson to find out where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn’t; how it unites us as a nation and how it has nearly torn us apart.
Extras + Features
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Built to Last? - Preview
S1 E4 - 30s
Consider the systems that have kept the Constitution healthy for more than 225 years.
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It's a Free Country - Preview
S1 E2 - 30s
Examine what most Americans consider the Constitution’s most important feature: the Bill of Rights.
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A More Perfect Union - Preview
S1 E1 - 30s
Take a sneak peak at CONSTUTITUION USA's "A More Perfect Union."
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Behind the Scenes with CONSTITUTION USA
S1 - 7m 48s
Go behind the scenes with CONSTITUTION USA and see what it was like making the series.
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Power Struggle: Tug of War
S1 - 5m 3s
Gary Marbut discusses state rights and the advantage of state government.
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Battles of School Prayer
S1 - 7m 41s
What exactly does the First Amendment say about religion? Learn more about the separation of church and state.
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Economic Liberty
S1 - 4m 1s
Learn more about government sanctioned monopolies and how it is a Constitutional issue.
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Madison's Constitution Convention Notes
S1 - 2m 28s
In this clip, tour guide Sean O'Brien shows us around James Madison's home. We make a stop at Madison's library and find out why Madison refused to publish his notes on the Constitutional Convention until after his death.
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The Commerce Clause
S1 - 3m 53s
Learn about the Commerce Clause and how Wickard v. Filburn started it all.
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Privacy
S1 - 5m 47s
Efrat Cohen explains how social media and digital trails have changed the concept of privacy.
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The Big Bang Theory
S1 - 4m 9s
Akhil Amar explains his view on the founding and how it is the significant moment in our history.
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Protesting Funerals: The First Amendment Put to the Test
S1 - 9m 29s
Is all speech protected? Learn more about freedom of speech and what rights citizens have.
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