"We dive into how the government actually works, so we go through each of our three branches of government that make up Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Constitution," says Sarah Winski, Senior Director of Exhibits at the National Constitution Center.
Starting with Congress and the Legislative Branch, the presidency and the Executive Branch and the Supreme Court and other federal courts in the Judicial Branch.
"Visitors learn how the founders put that frame of government into action by dividing power, by creating checks and balances," says Vince Stango, Interim President and CEO of the National Constitution Center.
"But we also cover the states and the federal government and that relationship," says Winski.
There are set pieces in each section.
"This is our Supreme Court set," she says. "With our 'Be a Judge' interactive."
"It's a really immersive gallery so you can both step up to the podium and take the oath of office, you can sit at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office," says Stango. "And really kind of see yourself in those roles."
Helping visitors of all ages to understand how those branches work together to create the government that we have today.
"It's like an interactive civics class," says Winski.
There is also an array of artifacts, like a chair from the first Congress that came from Congress Hall.
"Everything from Justin Dart's wheelchair, who was present with President George H. W. Bush when the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed," says Stango. "And a ballot box from the Bush v. Gore 2000 election."
"We also have a lot of election ephemera from all kinds of different elections," says Winski. "It's a really fun opportunity for us to show really, really cool objects that are actually in our collection."
The National Constitution Center will be open seven days a week through mid-July.
"We're looking forward to welcoming lots of visitors here to Independence Mall this summer," says Stango. "I really do hope that people come away with a better understanding of that American idea, those ideals and founding principles, and then how our government is designed to work."
The National Constitution Center's "Governing the Nation" Gallery is now open and ready for exploration.
For more information:
National Constitution Center - "Governing the Nation" Gallery
Link to Tickets at the National Constitution Center
National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19106