What the
ByHeidiSchreck
Directedby LaionaMichelle
ByHeidiSchreck
GUIDELINES FOR ATTENDING THE THEATRE
Attending live theatre is a unique experience with many valuable educational and social benefits. To ensure that all audience members are able to enjoy the performance, please take a few minutes to discuss the following audience etiquette topics with your students before you come to George Street Playhouse.
• How is attending the theatre similar to and different from going to the movies? What behaviors are and are not appropriate when seeing a play? Why?
› Remind students that because the performance is live, the audience can affect what kind of performance the actors give. No two audiences are exactly the same and no two performances are exactly the same— this is part of what makes theatre so special! Students’ behavior should reflect the level of performance they wish to see.
• Theatre should be an enjoyable experience for the audience. Audience members are more than welcome to applaud when appropriate and laugh at the funny moments. Talking and calling out during the performance, however, are not allowed. Why might this be?
› Be sure to mention that not only would the people seated around them be able to hear their conversation, but the actors on stage could hear them, too. Theatres are constructed to carry sound efficiently!
**What the Constitution Means to Me has moments where actors will ask for audience participation at appropriate times.**
• Any noise or light can be a distraction, so please remind students to make sure their cell phones are turned off (or better yet, left at home or at school!). Texting, photography, and video recording are prohibited. Food and gum should not be taken into the theatre.
• Students should sit with their group as seated by the Front of House staff and should not leave their seats once the performance has begun. If possible, restrooms should be used before and after the performance.
SUMMARY
What the Constitution Means to Me combines personal memoir with historical analysis, exploring the impact of the U.S. Constitution on individuals' lives, especially women. The play is structured around playwright Heidi Schreck's experiences as a teenager participating in constitutional debate contests, juxtaposed with her reflections as an adult.
The play begins with Heidi Schreck reenacting her teenage self, competing in a constitutional debate for college scholarship money. She passionately discusses the Constitution's relevance and significance, specifically focusing on the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. Schreck's youthful idealism is evident as she argues about the promise of the Constitution.
As the play progresses, adult Schreck interweaves her personal stories, family history, and broader socio-political issues. She delves into her family's experiences with domestic violence, her grandmother's struggles, and her own encounters with sexism and reproductive rights. These narratives highlight how constitutional principles have affected her family across generations, often failing to protect their rights and freedoms.
Schreck also engages with the audience, breaking the fourth wall to invite them into the conversation. The play culminates in a debate with a real-life high school student about the Constitution's effectiveness and its future. This dynamic exchange emphasizes the ongoing and evolving nature of constitutional interpretation.
CHARACTERS
HEIDI
Heidi is a 40-something woman contemplating America’s founding document Legionnaire, a proud member of the Leyden Chiles-Wickersham American Legion Post 10 in Wenatchee, Washington.
LEGIONNAIRE
The Legionnaire is a proud member of the LeydenChiles-Wickersham American Legion Post 10 in Wenatchee, Washington
DEBATER
The Debater is a high school student who debates the merits of the Constitution with Heidi. The play includes historical audio recordings from several Supreme Court cases that feature the following voices: Justice Potter Stewart, William I. Emerson, Justice Earl Warren, Justice Antonin Scalia, John C. Eastman, Justice Stephen Breyer and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
MEET THE CREATIVES
HEIDI SHRECK
Playwright
Heidi Schreck is a writer and performer living in Brooklyn. What the Constitution Means to Me was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist, won the Obie Award and New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play. Heidi also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance of an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play After an extended run on Broadway, What the Constitution Means to Me played a sold-out, limited run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and was recorded and distributed by Amazon Prime Other Playwriting: Heidi’s other plays include Grand Concourse (Playwrights Horizons, Steppenwolf Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Lilly Award Winner), Creature (New Georges, Page 73), There Are No More Big Secrets (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater) and The Consultant (Long Wharf Theatre) TV/Film Writing: Her screenwriting credits include Nurse Jackie and Billions Heidi also wrote and co-executive produced the Joey Soloway Amazon series I Love Dick She currently has three television projects in development with Hulu/Big Beach, Hulu/Working Title and Amazon/Annapurna. Acting: Heidi has performed at Playwrights Horizons, The Public Theatre (Shakespeare in the Park); MTC, Theater of a Two-Headed Calf, The Foundry, Clubbed Thumb, The Women’s Project, The Roundabout, Williamstown, Berkeley Rep, Center Theatre Group, and with The Talking Band. Awards: What the Constitution Means to Me was named Best Play of the Year 2019 by the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, TIME, Hollywood Reporter, New Yorker, Newsweek, BuzzFeed, Forbes, Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly. NPR named it one of the “50 Great Pop Culture Moments” of 2019. Heidi was awarded Smithsonian magazine’s 2019 American Ingenuity Award and she received the 2019 Benjamin Hadley Danks Award from the Academy of Arts and Letters
LAIONA MICHELLE Director
Laiona Michelle is Artistic Associate Director at George Street Playhouse. Laiona is the creator of the Nina Simone musical, Little Girl Blue, which won the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Solo Show and the Lilly Award for writing (2022). She was also nominated for Lucille Lortel, and the Outer Critics Circle Awards Laiona is the bookwriter of Mandela, The Musical which made its world premiere in London at the Young Vic in 2022 Laiona has directed several plays including the George Street Playhouse's productions of Her Portmanteau and Having Our Say She made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the musical, Amazing Grace
As a performer, Laiona Michelle has been nominated for numerous awards, and is the recipient of the Barrymore and Carbonell Awards (2004); The NAACP Hollywood award (2005) and was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award (2005). Some of her TV/Film credits include "Lift, ""All My Children," "Law & Order: SVU," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "The Blacklist", and "Crashing,"as well as Amazon's "Sneaky Pete."
HEIDI SCHRECK
Playwright
LAIONA MICHELLE Director
MEET THE CAST
Kate Baldwin Heidi
Kate Baldwin is a two-time Tony® Award and four-time Drama Desk Award nominee who has delighted audiences across the country with performances on Broadway, in concert and on television Baldwin starred as Irene Molloy opposite Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce and Gavin Creel in the hit Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, for which she was nominated for the Tony®, Drama Desk and Outer Critic’s Circle awards She originated the role of Sandra Bloom in Big Fish on Broadway and earned accolades and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her work as Leslie Lynnton Benedict in Michael John LaChiusa’s Giant at The Public Theatre. She received a Drama Desk Award nomination for her role as Jen in Keen Company’s 20th Anniversary revival of Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald’s John & Jen. She garnered critical acclaim and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Tom Kitt and John Logan’s Superhero at Second Stage Her starring role in the 2009 revival of Yip Harburg’s and Burton Lane’s hit classic musical Finian’s Rainbow, drew Tony®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations and put her on the map as “a real musical theatre star ” (New York Post) Kate has appeared in the Broadway casts of The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wonderful Town. She starred in The King and I at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (San Francisco, Detroit, Toronto), The Women at The Old Globe, Henry V at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, She Loves Me at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and The Music Man and South Pacific at Arena Stage, earning a Helen Hayes Award nomination She drew raves for her portrayal of Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County directed by original cast member Hunter Foster and for her turn as Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street at Goodspeed Opera House directed by original creator Randy Skinner.
Nicholas Rodriguez Legionnaire
Nicholas Rodriguez has had an extensive career on Broadway (Tarzan), film (Sex and the City 2) and the concert stage He recently toured the US as Captain Georg Von Trapp in The Sound of Music directed by Jack O’Brien His debut album, Based on his one-man show of the same name, The First Time fuses Rodriguez's love of theatre with the music of jazz, blues, folk and pop It was released PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, and is available on iTunes and at www psclassics com Nicholas made his Broadway debut in Disney’s production of Tarzan Off-Broadway he starred in The Toxic Avenger: The Musical, Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver, Death for Five Voices, Colette Collage, and Bajour. He’s also traveled the world on tours of Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Evita (Che), and Hair (Claude)
ORATORICAL CONTEST
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Membership swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at swiftly grew to over 1 million, and local posts sprang up across the country. Today, membership stands at nearly 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each nearly 2 million in more than 13,000 posts worldwide. The posts are organized into 55 departments: one each for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines. for the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S.
The American Legion Oratorical Contest exists to develop deeper knowledge and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an Constitution among high school students. Since 1938, the program has presented participants with an academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the academic speaking challenge that teaches important leadership qualities, the history of our nation’s laws, the ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of ability to think and speak clearly, and an understanding of the duties, responsibilities, rights and privileges of American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the American citizenship. The program has featured numerous politicians and prominent contestants over the years, including former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, national television commentator and talk radio host years, including former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, national television commentator and talk radio host Lou Dobbs, and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Lou Dobbs, and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.
Young orators earn some of the most generous college Young orators earn some of the most generous college scholarships available to high school students. Over scholarships available to high school students. Over $200,000 in scholarships are awarded each year. The $200,000 in scholarships are awarded each year. The overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 overall national contest winner gets a $25,000 scholarship Second place takes home $22,500, and scholarship. Second place takes home $22,500, and third gets $20,000. Each state winner who is certified third gets $20,000 Each state winner who is certified into and participates in the national contest’s first round into and participates in the national contest’s first round receives a $2,000 scholarship.The New Jersey Contest receives a $2,000 scholarship.The New Jersey Contest will award a $4,000 scholarship for the first place will award a $4,000 scholarship for the first place winner, $2,500 for second place, $2,000 for third place winner, $2,500 for second place, $2,000 for third place and $1,000 each for fourth and fifth place and $1,000 each for fourth and fifth place.
The American Legion’s National Organization awards the The American Legion’s National Organization awards the scholarships, which can be used at any college or scholarships, which can be used at any college or university in the United States. university in the United States.
Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U S Speaking subjects must be on some aspect of the U.S. Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and Constitution, with some emphasis on the duties and obligations of citizens to our government. Speeches are obligations of citizens to our government Speeches are eight to 10 minutes long; three- to five-minute speeches eight to 10 minutes long; three- to five-minute speeches on an assigned topic also are part of the contest. on an assigned topic also are part of the contest.
HeidiSchreck
History of Abortion Access in the United States
What the Constitution Means to Me addresses the topic of abortion access in a deeply personal way as Heidi tells her story and connects it to the U.S. Constitution. The history of abortion access in this country has changed drastically over the past several hundred years.
In the 1700s and early 1800s, medical literature and newspapers regularly referred to abortifacient herbs, pessaries, and other methods of abortion, as surgical interventions were not as common Abortion was a fact of life and reproductive care, and was legal until what was referred to as “quickening,” or when fetal motion could be felt by the pregnant person Reproductive care was the purview of midwives and nurses, and as such,was not regulated White, male doctors saw pregnancy and reproductive care as a women’s issue, so women were the providers of care Many of these women were Black, some of whom were enslaved; indigenous women and white women also provided midwifery Abortions using herbs or other medicines were part of this care
While abortion was legal throughout the country for white women until the mid-1800s, the same could not be said for enslaved Black women The offspring of enslaved women were seen as valuable property, so enslaved women were prohibited from receiving abortions if their pregnancies were discovered Under the law, white men owned these Black women’s bodies
In the mid-1800s, a coalition of doctors, with the support of the Catholic Church and others who sought control over the reproductive freedoms of women, began to lobby for a change in laws regarding abortion. The American Medical Association was founded in 1847 and promptly started to scrutinize the care provided by midwives and others giving reproductive care, even though expertise in these areas was not something “trained” doctors specialized in at the time. In their quest to regulate medicine and medical care, these women and their services were an easy target to help prove the AMA’s legitimacy and power. In 1957, the AMA led a letter-writing campaign that was highly effective and led to over forty anti-abortion laws going into effect between 1860 and 1880. This movement continued to have a massive impact throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, with abortion banned in every state by 1910. Although abortion became illegal during the 1920s and 1930s, many doctors still provided abortion services “off the book.” This practice became less common after World War II.
The change in enforcement of abortion laws in the 1940s and 1950s coincided with a change in ]societal attitudes:
“All across America, it’s very much about gender roles, and women are supposed to be in the home, having babies,” according to Mary Fissell, Professor of History of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University In the 1950s and 1960s, up to 1 2 million illegal abortions were performed annually across the U S These illegal abortions were often dangerous and not medically supervised, leading to complications and sometimes even death In 1965, 17% of deaths from pregnancy complications were attributed to unregulated abortions
History of Abortion Access in the United States
A rubella outbreak from 1963-1965 and the complications it could cause with pregnancy set the stage for more advocacy for legal abortions and abortions for “therapeutic” or “medically necessary” reasons. During this time and throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, access to safe abortion was the domain of the privileged. Women with means and certain freedoms were able to obtain safer abortions, advocate for their rights legally, and get medical care they required. The trend towards legal intervention led to many states changing their abortion laws during this time.
At the time of the landmark Roe v. Wade case in 1973, legal abortions were available in seventeen states The Supreme Court ruled that the due process clause of the 14th amendment (a clause that is highlighted in What the Constitution Means to Me) protected the right to a legal abortion as part of a pregnant person’s right to privacy With the Roe v Wade decision, abortion was legalized throughout the country, but the elevation of the issue to the Supreme Court galvanized abortion opponents and set off over fifty years of struggle between the Pro-Life and Pro-Choice movements in America
In 1976, the Hyde Amendment was enacted, making it illegal for Medicaid or any other federal program dollars to be used for abortion services Of course, this had a huge impact on marginalized groups as those people were the ones largely using Medicaid As before, privilege factored into the availability of abortion access While Roe v Wade made abortion legal throughout the country, in 1992, another court case came to the Supreme Court which reaffirmed the right to an abortion, but also created an “undue burden” clause that said that laws regulating abortion must be judged by whether they create an “undue burden” for the pregnant person.
After that case, many state legislatures made even more regulations as far as when pregnancy abortions were allowed, in what circumstances, and the like. Subsequent Supreme Court decisions chipped away at abortion access or reaffirmed it, depending on the particular cases.
In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade after almost fifty years of abortion access as a constitutionally protected right. In the ensuing year and- a-half, states have passed various laws banning or restricting abortion, advocacy groups have brought court cases, and abortion access has been greatly diminished throughout the United States.
Here in New Jersey, The Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, signed into law in January 2022, specifically recognized the reproductive rights into State law ritten by Lindsey Hoel-Neds
NewJerseyGovernor, PhilMurphy
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
The United States Constitution was written in 1787 but it has been amended 27 times since it became law. The process of amending the Constitution is one of the ways federal and state governments can introduce or change laws across the country. To be officially added to the Constitution, an amendment must either be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, or by a Constitutional Convention that is called by at least two-thirds of the the states. In both instances, three-fourths of the states must approve or ratify the amendment.
1791 - First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.“
What it means: The first amendment decrees that Congress cannot establish an official religion for the country, and protects the right of those within the United States to freedom of worship, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble peacefully and freedom to petition the government for redress of grievances.
Did you know: The “right to petition the government for redress of grievances” means that people within the United States can circulate petitions and speak directly to government officials about public issues? It also means that government officials have to listen or respond to these comments
Example: Abington School District v. Schempp - The Supreme Court ruled that school-sponsored Bible readings are unconstitutional.
1791 - Ninth Amendment
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”
What it means: The ninth amendment states that the listing of certain specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that other, unlisted rights are invalid. In other words, the list of rights the Constitution gives us is not final.
Did You Know: Before 1960, this amendment was used very rarely in Supreme Court cases Since then, it has emerged as an important tool for affirming and protecting liberties not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution
Example: Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) The Supreme Court ruled that preventing married couples from using birth control was a violation of their right to privacy.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
1865 - Thirteenth Amendment
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”
What it means: The amendment made slavery illegal in all states and territories, but made a specific exception for anyone who is convicted of a crime. However, it did not prevent many Southern States from passing discriminatory laws, which criminalized free Black people, and extremely limited their ability to move and work.
Did you know: Although the amendment became part of the Constitution in 1865, a few states who rejected it initially did not ratify it until the late 20th century. Kentucky ratified the Thirteenth Amendment in 1976 and Mississippi did the same in 1995. Example: Arver v. United States (1918). The plaintiff argued that the military draft was forced labor, and therefore unconstitutional. The court, however, ruled against him.
1868 - Fourteenth Amendment
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws ”
What it means: The amendment grants citizenship to everyone born or naturalized within the United States and says that no state can deny rights or privileges to someone from another state. It also declares that all citizens are equal under the law, with the same rights and privileges, and that states cannot deny any person a fair legal process.
Did you know: The Fourteenth Amendment describes who can be a citizen, but it does not state how the process of naturalization (becoming a citizen) must occur Congress has the power to create the guidelines for who is allowed to become naturalized, as well as the process and scrutiny they must go through Example: Brown v Board of Education of Topeka (1954) The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that state-sponsored segregation is inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
1870 - Fifteenth Amendment
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
What it means: The Fifteenth Amendment decrees that it is illegal and unconstitutional for the federal or state government to prevent any citizen from voting based on race, color, or having previously been a slave. This amendment was passed in the years following the Civil War and gave Black men the right to vote.
Did you know: After the passage of this amendment, many states passed other laws and instituted discriminatory practices that kept Black people and other marginalized communities from voting. Many of these laws have been overturned, but states continue to pass voting restriction laws that disproportionately impact these same communities. Example: Guinn v. United States (1915). The Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the state of Oklahoma to require some citizens to pass a literacy test to vote but not others.
1920 - Nineteenth Amendment
“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”
What it means: This amendment forbids the federal government or any state government to deny anyone the right to vote based on their sex
Did You Know: Although the amendment became part of the Constitution in 1920, Native American women were not granted the right to vote until 1965, when the Voting Rights Act required all states to allow Native citizens to vote. Example: Leser v. Garnett (1922) The Supreme Court prevented Maryland from denying two women the right to vote.
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT AND THE CONSTITUTION
In Heidi Schreck’s re-examination of her relationship to America’s most important legal document, multiple cases seen by the Supreme Court before, during, and after the playwright’s years as an oratorical competitor were just as formative to her experience as an American woman as constitutional amendments.
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) - Dred Scott, an enslaved man residing in Missouri, filed suit against his master in 1856, arguing that his decade-long residency in Illinois and the Louisiana Purchase (both territories that outlawed slavery) made him a free man. In a 7–2 ruling, the all-white court decided in 1857 that “a negro, whose ancestors were imported into [the US], and sold as slaves,” regardless of freedom status, was not an American citizen and therefore could not file suit in federal court. The case was dismissed on procedural grounds. This ruling also decided that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which designated free and slave states in the Louisiana Purchase, was unconstitutional, and that all laws which stripped slave owners of their right to slave ownership were unconstitutional. This case was a major setback for the abolitionist movement
Thompson v. Thompson (1913) - In 1910, plaintiff Jessie Thompson filed an action against her husband, defendant Charles Thompson, for assault, asking for $70,000 (about $2.2 million in 2024) for damages incurred. The Supreme Court ruled that such a charge could not be pressed by a wife against her husband due to the unity of husband and wife under common law, as well as the fear that such a precedent would “open the doors of the courts to accusations of all sorts of one spouse against the other, and bring into public notice complaints for assault, slander, and libel, and alleged injuries to property of the one or the other by husband against wife or wife against husband.” This “threat” to the general welfare was enough to convince the all-male court that the legal autonomy of American wives needed to be tempered.
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT AND THE CONSTITUTION
In Heidi Schreck’s re-examination of her relationship to America’s most important legal document, multiple cases seen by the Supreme Court before, during, and after the playwright’s years as an oratorical competitor were just as formative to her experience as an American woman as constitutional amendments.
Roe v. Wade (1973) - The anonymous Jane Roe (who later identified herself as Norma McCorvey) sued Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade, challenging a Texas law that limited abortion access except through a doctor’s permission to save a mother’s life The case, which argued that limiting abortion access was an invasion of Roe’s privacy, was decided in 1973, with a 7–2 majority in favor of the plaintiff The suit was a landmark decision for reproductive freedom, and protected abortion on the federal level for nearly fifty years before being overturned in 2022
Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales (2005) - After the Castle Rock Police Department failed to enforce Jessica Gonzales’ restraining order against her ex-husband, leading to the abduction and murders of her three children, Gonzales, who now goes by Jessica Lenahan, brought a complaint against the local government She argued that their failure to intervene violated the Due Process Clause, which states “[n]o state shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..." In a 7–2 ruling, the Supreme Court determined that Gonzales had no “property interest” in the claim, and therefore owners of restraining orders are not owed any specific mandatory action by law enforcement.
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) - After the passing of the Gestational Age Act in Mississippi, which prohibited nearly all abortions after 15 weeks for state residents, Jackson Women’s Health Organization filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that 15 weeks was not enough time to prove that a fetus was viable, which went against Supreme Court precedent. After the suit arrived in front of the Supreme Court, the conservative majority ruled that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, overturning the decision of Roe v. Wade made nearly five decades prior.
GLOSSARY
American Legion: an organization founded in 1919 that is composed of ex-servicemen from the U S Armed Forces who saw active duty during wartime The Legion assists and lobbies politically for veterans, as well as sponsoring various youth programs
Associative Logic: a method of thinking in which a person draws connections between topics that seem unrelated or distantly related
Battered woman syndrome: Now more formally known as “Intimate Partner Violence,” a historically common term for people (most often women) who experience physical, sexual, or psychological abuse perpetrated by their partner. It is considered a subcategory of post-traumatic stress disorder, as the victim often experiences physical or psychological symptoms
Bayard Rustin (1912–1987): A human rights activist and significant organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, as well as one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most trusted advisors. Rustin helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and later became a LGBTQ+ rights activist and AIDS education advocate in the 1980s.
Bell Hooks (1952–2021): American author and social critic, best known for her writings on the intersectionality of race, gender, and class in producing systems of oppression Her most notable works include: All About Love, The Will to Change, and Feminism is For Everybody
Billie Jean King (b. 1943): American tennis player, formerly the number one tennis player in the world In 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes,” which became one of the most significant events in history for gaining respect for women in sports
Changeling: a fairy child, who fairies secretly leave in the place of a human child they have abducted. From European folklore.
Clause: a separate, distinct section of a legal document (like a contract, treaty or will)
Dr. Dorothy Height (1912–2010): An activist and leader of the Civil Rights Movement and the President of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years. Her work focused on ending lynchings and restructuring the criminal justice system, and her counsel was regularly sought after by Eleanor Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lyndon B. Johnson. In 2004, Dr. Height was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and inducted into the Democracy Hall of Fame International.
Gloria Steinem (b 1934): Nationally Recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the 1960s and 1970s and co-founder of Ms magazine In 1971, she co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus to provide training and support for women seeking elected office
Extemporaneous: spoken or performed with little or no advance preparation
GLOSSARY
Hammurabi: an ancient king of Babylonia (in present-day Iraq). He established a law code that implemented severe physical punishment and with harsher laws for poor citizens and women. The saying “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” comes from Hammurabi’s laws.
Jurisdiction: the extent of authority or control that a governing body or official has For example, someone’s jurisdiction can be limited to certain topics or geographical areas
Log running (log driving): The process of moving logs downstream to sawmills or pulp mills using the current of a river Log drivers would watch the spots where rivers were likely to jam, and dislodge logs that would get caught, preventing a pile up Many log drivers lost their lives due to being crushed by logs.
Magna Carta: a legal document drafted by English noblemen in 1215. This document, which they forced King John to sign, established the right of the nobleman to swift trails and protected them from illegal imprisonment. The Constitution as a whole, and specifically the Fifth Amendment, was inspired by the Magna Carta and its role in establishing rights for English citizens.
Melancholia: an outdated term for a mental health condition. The symptoms of this condition were said to be severe depression, and an irrational sense of fear or foreboding.
Milliner: a person who designs, makes or sells hats for women;
Naturalistic: in art, when something is an accurate, detailed and unbiased recreation of life Strives to depict objective reality, not the opinions of the artist
Pager: a small, portable device that can receive text or voice messages Some pagers can also reply or send messages Pagers commonly carried before cell phones became widespread and are still used by some people working in social service agencies or public safety.
Pater familias: The oldest living male in the household, the head of a Roman family. Latin for “father of the family” or “owner of the family estate.”
Penumbra: a shadowy, indefinite or incompletely illuminated area;
Trenchant: incisive, keen or cutting. Sharp, direct and to the point.
Violence Against Women Act: The first federal legislation recognizing domestic violence and sexual assault as a crime, enacted in 1994 The act also provides federal resources to combat violence against women, such as housing, legal assistance, and prevention programming This act is up for renewal every five years
QUESTIONS FOR CONVERSATION:
How has the Constitution impacted your family or community?
What are some ways the Constitution influences your day to day life?
How can we ensure that our rights are protected?
When we consider large societal changes, which typically comes first: public opinion or court opinion? Use historical examples as evidence. Are rights given to people by governments, or do all people inherently have them?
Should we keep the Constitution as the basis of government, or should we try to write a new and fairer document for today’s society?
How can we achieve a more participatory and representative democracy?