The Department of Political Science will join the University of Nebraska–Lincoln community in commemorating Constitution Day on Sept. 17 with a full day of public programming focused on the U.S. Constitution and contemporary constitutional issues.
The free, public event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Swanson Auditorium at Nebraska Union and will feature live oral arguments by the Nebraska Court of Appeals, followed by opportunities for students and members of the public to engage 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 and consider questions surrounding speech, authorship and constitutional protections in an era of artificial intelligence.
Experience the appellate process in action:
- 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Oral Arguments Session
- 10:30 - 11:00 a.m. - Q&A with the Judges
- 1:00 - 2:10 p.m. - Oral Arguments Session
- 2:10 - 2:45 p.m. - Q&A with the Judges
- 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion
Note: Once an oral argument begins, you must remain in the courtroom until that specific oral argument concludes. Plan for approximately 25 minutes.
Constitution Day is a federal observance recognizing the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and encouraging constitutional literacy and civic engagement.
The oral arguments are sponsored by the 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 UNL AI Institute.
Contact Sara Houston, Assistant Professor of Practice in the department, with questions.
The department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.
