How Does the Declaration of Independence Influence the Constitution?

The Declaration of Independence summarizes and defends the most fundamental ideas about America - about our government, the relationship between it and individuals, and how its proper place in public life. If the Constitution is a set of rules and processes, with a 'mission statement' in the Preamble, the Declaration of Independence presents the ideas that call for those rules and processes, and make sense of that mission statement.

As we prepare for America's 250th birthday, let's understand the connection between these two fundamental documents and how the relate to our ongoing experiment in self-government.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton