While 2026 marks the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence, this year also marks the 250th anniversary of an important milestone in Pennsylvania history: the Commonwealth’s first state constitution, which was authorized in June 1776 during the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference held at Carpenters’ Hall. Adopted in September 1776, this document, which included a Bill of Rights and expanded voting rights, influenced other state constitutions in the Revolutionary period–and indeed the U.S. Constitution itself just a few years later. A bedrock of fundamental rights for Pennsylvanians, the current state constitution includes rights that go beyond those in the U.S. Constitution and affect the lives of everyone in the Commonwealth. 

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference and the 1776 Pennsylvania Constitution, Carpenters’ Hall is hosting a series of programs and events throughout 2026 to explore this important milestone in Commonwealth history and engage Pennsylvanians in the contemporary relevance of our state constitution. This Town Hall, moderated by WHYY’s Maiken Scott, will feature a panel discussion with experienced lawyers and legal scholars exploring the early history of our state constitution as well as issues such as public education, voting rights, the environment, reproductive rights and others that are within the jurisdiction of our current state constitution. The panelists are:

• Charles “Chip” Becker: Partner, Kline & Specter
• Aaron Marcus: Chief of Appeals, Defender Association of Philadelphia
• Julie Randolph: Practice Professor, Temple University Beasley School of Law
• Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg: Senior Attorney, Public Interest Law Center

Partners for this Town Hall are Philadelphia Bar Association, Public Interest Law Center, and PA Humanities. Special thanks to our Media Partner, WHYY.

Please click the event registration button below to RSVP for the Philadelphia Town Hall, which will be held on Monday, March 30, 2026, from 5-7pm at WHYY's Dorrance H. Hamilton Public Media Commons, located at 150 North 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. This program will be recorded for future viewing but is not being live-streamed.

Members of the Philadelphia Bar Association who want to earn CLE credits for this program, should register here. 

Attendees at this Town Hall will be entered into a drawing, and the winner will receive a pair of tickets to a FIFA World Cup game in Philadelphia in June, an overnight stay at the Study in University City, and a private tour of Carpenters' Hall. Winners must be present to win (prize package courtesy of the PA State Tourism Office and Visit Philadelphia). 

This event is supported by America250PA and the Landenberger Family Foundation and sponsored by the Philadelphia Bar Association.