Is compromise possible in today’s polarized political climate? What are the forces that lead to compromise—and why is it such a dirty word among so many members of Congress? Penn President Amy Gutmann and Dennis F. Thompson, a professor of government at Harvard, pose these questions in their new book, “The Spirit of Compromise: Why Governing Demands It and Campaigning Undermines It.” The scholars will discuss the book on Wednesday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St. Andrea Mitchell, NBC chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of the MSNBC show, “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” will facilitate the discussion.

Tickets are $10 for non-members of the Center, $7 for members, students, and teachers, and free for all 1787 Society members. For more information, go to: www.constitutioncenter.org and click on “Programs & Events” on the left side of the page.