At a divisive moment in American politics, the U.S. Constitution is under scrutiny for how it may promote those divisions. As the nation celebrates Constitution Day today (Tuesday), one constitutional scholar at Duke has a message for Americans that the nation’s governing document is doing its work to promote unity.

"The Constitution is particularly valuable in a time like ours — a time of division and polarization,” said Yuval Levin, 2024 Egan Visiting Professor at the DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy. “The document was written with the dangers of faction and disunity in mind and offers us a lot of tools to build cohesion, if we let it.”

Levin is author of American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation – And Could Again, a book that argues that the U.S. Constitution has a strong ability to navigate political differences. “We too often see the Constitution as the problem in our time, but we would be wiser to see it as the solution and recognize that our politics has gone wrong by turning against the Constitution and the pluralistic vision of politics that underlies it.”

Constitution Day also falls on National Voter Registration Day, and activities at Duke will promote civic engagement and the Constitution’s role in developing a knowledgeable citizenry.

During the day (weather permitting), voter registration tabling will take place on Bryan Center Plaza on West Campus from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Marketplace on East Campus from 6-8 p.m.

At 6 p.m., students can express their belief in the value of voting at a screen printing-workshop and voter registration event sponsored by Duke Arts and Duke Votes.

University officials said Constitution Day offers a real opportunity for people to reflect on their civic responsibilities, particularly in an important election year. The voter registration deadline to vote in person on Election Day is Friday, Oct. 11, although same-day registration will still be available during the early voting period.

“The late Senator Edward Kennedy said, ‘The Constitution does not just protect those whose views we share; it also protects those with whose views we disagree,’” said Chris Simmons, vice president for government relations. “Kennedy’s words ring especially true at a time when differences seem so stark, and meaningful engagement and patience with each other are especially necessary.”

The day will end with a musical celebration. The Duke Chapel carillon will perform patriotic songs, including the “Star Spangled Banner” and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” during the daily 5 p.m. concert. The carillon bells can be heard on West Campus and also online on the Duke Chapel Facebook page.