Title 16, ConservationRelease 119-110

§407bb Establishment

Title 16 › CHAPTER 1 — NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › SUBCHAPTER LI–A — NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER › § 407bb

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior (the official who manages national parks) must create the National Constitution Center (a new public center) near Independence National Historical Park to give nonpartisan information so Americans can learn about and understand the U.S. Constitution. The Center will show exhibits about the Constitution’s history and present-day importance; run national education programs (including traveling exhibits, radio and TV pieces, school materials, and other services); bring scholars and legal practitioners together to study and debate constitutional issues; and keep archives for bicentennial programs.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §407bb

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Secretary”) shall establish The National Constitution Center (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the “Center”) within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park. The Center shall disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.

(b)Functions of Center

The functions of the Center shall include—

(1)serving as a center of exhibits and related materials on the history and contemporary significance of the Constitution;

(2)directing a national program of public education on the Constitution; issuing traveling exhibits, commissioning radio and television programs, furnishing materials for the schools, and providing other education services;

(3)functioning as an intellectual center, drawing both academics and practitioners to debate and refine constitutional issues and, at the same time, providing intellectual support for the Center’s exhibits and public education program; and

(4)creating archives for programs on the bicentennial of the United States Constitution.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 407bb

Title 16, Conservation

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110