The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute partnered with Jacksonville State University’s American Democracy Project on September 15 for an America 250 Panel Discussion examining the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the principles of American democracy as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary.

Held at Houston Cole Library on the Jacksonville State University campus, the program featured U.S. District Judge W. Keith Watkins of the Middle District of Alabama; Dr. Steven P. Brown, professor of political science at Auburn University; Dr. Diane Best, associate professor at Jacksonville State University and a U.S. Air Force veteran; and Lt. Col. Eddie D. Walker, Jr., professor of military science for Jacksonville State’s Army ROTC program.

Dr. Lori Owens, dean of Jacksonville State’s Honors College and chair of the university’s American Democracy Project Committee, and Thomas Rains, executive director of the Johnson Institute, moderated the discussion about the significance of the Declaration of Independence and what the ideas expressed at the nation’s founding mean for Americans today. The event was part of Jacksonville State’s annual Constitution Day programming and its commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.

The discussion explored why the U.S. Constitution remains relevant so many years after its adoption, the relationship between the Declaration and the U.S. Constitution, and what Americans today can learn from the people and circumstances surrounding the nation’s founding. Panelists also considered citizenship and personal responsibility, military service and the American tradition of civilian government, and the ways the ideals articulated in 1776 have continued to shape the country across generations.

Those topics reflected the varied experiences of the panelists. Judge Watkins brought the perspective of more than two decades on the federal bench and years of involvement in civic education. Brown, whose scholarship focuses on American legal history and church-state issues, has written extensively about constitutional law and the history of the courts. Best drew from her experience as both an educator and an Air Force veteran, while Walker brought the perspective of a career Army officer who has served in the United States and abroad.

The event offered an opportunity not simply to commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but to consider the continuing responsibilities that accompany the principles it announced. As the United States observes its semiquincentennial, the discussion encouraged participants to connect the history of the nation’s founding with questions about citizenship, constitutional government, and the future of the American experiment.

The program is part of the Johnson Institute’s participation in America 250, the nationwide commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Through programs like this one, the Institute continues its work of creating opportunities for people to learn about the Constitution, the rule of law, and the responsibilities of citizenship.