Bill of Rights Institute

History

The Bill of Rights Institute was founded in September 1999 by industrialist Charles Koch and the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.

Koch has explained that he became concerned with education in the field of constitutional law after he saw that many high school teachers had inadequate resources to develop educational materials on the principles, institutions, and ideas upon which the United States was founded. Critics have stated that BRI promotes a conservative/libertarian view of the United States Constitution.

Leadership

The nonprofit's first president, Victoria Hughes, was a teacher who had previously held a number of executive roles in other non-profit organizations. Hughes led the organization for a decade until her departure, after which Tony Woodlief filled her position as president.

David Bobb, a former Hillsdale College professor and head of its Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship, became BRI's president in December 2013.

Activities

Professional development

BRI runs educational programs for teachers around the country. BRI conducted 64 constitutional seminars in the 2010–2011 school year, often held at historic sites such as George Washington's Mount Vernon or James Madison's Montpelier. Seminars include instruction from a university professor and training by a BRI master teacher. BRI professors include BRI board member and professor of law at George Mason University Todd Zywicki; author and professor of public policy at Pepperdine University Dr. Gordon Lloyd; University of Texas School of Law and Professor Dr. H.W. Perry Jr. BRI says it has reached over 22,000 teachers through professional development seminars.

Online educational resources

In August 2014, Bill of Rights Institute launched Documents of Freedom, a free digital course on history, government, and economics. The course builds on excerpts from over 100 primary sources, including the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers, presidential speeches, Supreme Court cases, and the Founding documents; and it offers an extensive set of original essays, focusing on principles such as federalism, separation of powers, limited government, checks and balances, republican government, consent of the governed, natural rights, rule of law, and due process, as well as virtues like self-governance, humility, integrity, justice, perseverance, respect, contribution, and responsibility.

Student programs

Essay contest

In 2006, BRI began a high school essay contest which asks students to reflect on civic values. Individuals who have taken part in the awards weekend include Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Clarence Thomas, journalist John Stossel, journalist and political analyst Juan Williams, Judge Andrew Napolitano, and NBA player Antawn Jamison.

Constitutional Academy

Other student programs run by BRI include the Constitutional Academy, which provides students with a six-week study of the Constitution in Washington, D.C. In 2011 the Ford Motor Company Fund provided scholarships to eleven students to attend the Constitutional Academy.

MyImpact Challenge

BRI hosts the MyImpact Challenge, a civic engagement contest open to U.S. citizens and U.S.-based young people who are between the ages of 13 and 19 and enrolled in middle or high school.

BRI National Civics Teacher of the Year

BRI presents an annual National Civics Teacher of the Year award to one civics teacher in the United States. Nominations begin in the spring and the award recipient is announced in the fall.

The 2025 National Civics Teacher of the Year was awarded to Veronica Pitts, a high school teacher in Selma, Alabama. Pitts was awarded with a $5,000 check for her to use in her classroom and a scholarship to attend the National Council of Social Studies annual conference in Washington, D.C. The chief program officer of BRI, Stan Swim, said that Pitts "really, really cares about these kids, and she understands and wants to help them be their best, and she understands that to do that, they have to know how to work within the country and the system that they live in." U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-Selma), congratulated Pitts for winning the award on the House Floor, stating, "Each year, only one teacher in the nation is selected to receive this prestigious honor, and I am thrilled that this year, the teacher hails from Alabama's 7th Congressional District."

Funding

In September 2025, BRI was awarded a two-year Carnegie grant for $750,000 to create free civic skills resources for teachers to use in the classroom.

References

References

1. (12 December 2023). "The First Amendment and Philanthropy: A Conversation with the Bill of Rights Institute".
2. (9 May 2013). "Bill Of Rights Institute - Nonprofit Explorer".
3. Hroncich, Colleen. (19 January 2024). "Friday Feature: Bill of Rights Institute".
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5. (February 27, 2013). "U.S. History According to Charles Koch: The conservative billionaire could be teaching your kids". Indy Week.
6. Mayer, Jane. (August 30, 2010). "Covert Operations".
7. (2014-12-05). "North Carolina Students May Start Learning Social Studies As Told By The Koch Brothers". HuffPost.
8. "Members and Organizations – Victoria Hughes". U.S. Department of State.
9. Woodlief, Tony. (2011-07-05). "Weekly Standard: Constitution Confusion? Ask A Kid".
10. Riley, Naomi Schaefer. "Lessons in Citizenship".
11. (December 5, 2013). "Bobb leaves Kirby".
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15. "New free online civics course from the Bill of Rights Institute, at Documents of Freedom". The Washington Post.
16. (March 12, 2009). "Essay Contest Draws Students' Thoughts on American Values". Washington Post.
17. (November 10, 2010). "Being an American Essay Contest deadline approaches – Auburn Reporter". Pnwlocalnews.com.
18. Liptak, Adam. (April 13, 2009). "Sidebar – Reticent Justice Opens Up to a Group of Students". The New York Times.
19. (March 31, 2009). "Justice Thomas on National Identity and Citizenship – C-SPAN Video Library". C-spanvideo.org.
20. (December 1, 2010). "Juan Williams And John Stossel Support High School Essay Contest On Being An American". TheCypressTimes.
21. (April 13, 2011). "DVIDS – News – Daughter of Lake Barkley Corps employee wins top honors in National Essay Contest". Dvidshub.net.
22. (May 13, 2011). "Oak Ridge student pens winning essay, goes to D.C.". Village Life.
23. (March 30, 2010). "Scholarships available to attend Constitutional Academy – Petoskey News". Articles.petoskeynews.com.
24. (January 14, 2010). "Constitutional Academy". Starinc.brinkster.net.
25. Suchyta, Sue. "Constitutional Academy inspires student". Dearborn Times-Herald.
26. (June 15, 2023). "Bill of Rights Institute highlights innovative Utah civics students".
27. Ellis, Emma. (2025-09-13). "Selma Teacher awarded National Civics Teacher of the Year".
28. "BRI Shows Our Appreciation To Teachers".
29. "Pitts named Bill of Rights Institute National Civics Teacher of the Ye...".
30. Ellis, Emma. (2025-09-13). "Selma Teacher awarded National Civics Teacher of the Year".
31. "Pitts honored on floor of House of Representatives".
32. (1 October 2025). "The Bill of Rights Institute Receives Carnegie Corporation of New York Grant to Develop Debate Curricula and Programs".
33. (23 September 2025). "Carnegie Corporation of New York Board Approves 94 Grants Totaling $63,219,000".