Why Are There Pirates in the Constitution?

UCF is commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17 with a lunch-and-learn. David Head, associate lecturer of history, is the keynote speaker.

Topic: Pirates are a part of the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 give Congress the power to "define and punish Piracies" and the power to "grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal." What are they doing there? This talk looks at a curious side of our founding document and reveals what pirates can tell us about the Constitution's origins and how it applies in our world today.