April 2, 2026 at 12:00-5:30 p.m. CDT
The Etter-Harbin Alumni Center at The University of Texas at Austin, 2110 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78712
On April 2, Pacific Legal Foundation and the Civitas Institute at The University of Texas at Austin present America 250: Liberty, Law, and the Pursuit of Happiness, a conference commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. At a moment of renewed debate over the role of government, this conference asks foundational questions: What did the Founders mean by the “pursuit of happiness”? What does that ideal demand of a free society today?
We’ll kick off the day with a keynote address from Jason L. Riley, columnist at The Wall Street Journal and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Through panels and interactive discussions, participants will explore how government can promote human flourishing, and what to do when it restrains individuals’ ability to pursue happiness for themselves. Engage with leading thinkers to consider how this core principle of the Declaration should guide the proper scope of government in America’s next 250 years.
