The American Bar Association (ABA) Division for Public Education conducted Civility and Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy, a planning forum and workshop, in, March 3-5, 2011. The moderated public forum and facilitated workshops explored the importance of balancing civility and freedom of expression, and how these values sometimes conflict, and the role that each play in a democracy.

The forum and workshop brought together scholars, educators, journalists, law-related professionals, community leaders, and students from across the country to explore these ideas and to reflect purposefully on the program theme and to develop a framework for a national program on the theme.

Conference Materials

• Civility and Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy: A Conference Report
• Civility and Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy: Guide to Planning Public Programs.

Project Partners

• Center for Civic Engagement at Northwestern University
• Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago
• Illinois Humanities Council
• Newberry Library.

Civility and Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities under the Bridging Cultures initiative. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Bar Association, or any of its program partners.