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https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Constitution-of-the-United-States-of-America/26012 Apr 4, 2024 "Constitution of the United States of America, the fundamental law of the U.S. federal system of government and a landmark document of the Western world. The oldest written national constitution in use, the Constitution defines the principal organs of government and their jurisdictions and the basic rights of citizens. (For a list of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, see below.)" Britannica School
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." --Preamble to the United States Constitution National Archives
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/more-perfect-union Oct 7, 2021 "A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution May 25, 1787, freshly spread dirt covered the cobblestone street in front of the Pennsylvania State House, protecting the men inside from the sound of passing carriages and carts. Guards stood at the entrances to ensure that the curious were kept at a distance. Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, the "financier" of the Revolution, opened the proceedings with a nomination--Gen. George Washington for the presidency of the Constitutional Convention. The vote was unanimous. With characteristic ceremonial modesty, the general expressed his embarrassment at his lack of qualifications to preside over such an august body and apologized for any errors into which he might fall in the course of its deliberations." National Archives
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution/how-did-it-happen Nov 28, 2023 "Concern about the Articles of Confederation Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared their young country was on the brink of collapse. America’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn’t regulate commerce, or print money. The states’ disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart. Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation." National Archives
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution Full Text | Preamble | Articles of the Constitution | Article I Legislative Branch | Article II Executive Branch | Article III Judicial Branch | Article IV Relationships Between the States | Article V Amending the Constitution | Article VI Prior Debts, National Supremacy Clause, and Oaths of Office | Article VII Ratification
https://www.congress.gov/constitution-annotated The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation ("Constitution Annotated" or "CONAN") provides a legal analysis and interpretation of the United States Constitution based on a comprehensive review of Supreme Court case law and, where relevant, historical practices that have defined the text of the Constitution. This regularly updated resource is written in "plain English" and useful for a wide audience: from constitutional scholars to those just beginning to learn about the nation's most important legal document.
The Featured Topics and Cases page highlights recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that demonstrate pivotal interpretations of the Constitution's provisions.
https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Constitution-of-the-United-States-of-America/26012 Apr 4, 2024 "Constitution of the United States of America, the fundamental law of the U.S. federal system of government and a landmark document of the Western world. The oldest written national constitution in use, the Constitution defines the principal organs of government and their jurisdictions and the basic rights of citizens. (For a list of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, see below.)" Britannica School
http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm displays a side by side Constitution with an Explanation of the meaning of each section.
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution teaches about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan is an edition of the Congressional Research Service's U.S. Constitution that is Annotated with a hypertext interpretation of the CRS text, updated to the currently published version. It links to Supreme Court opinions, the U.S. Code, and the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as enhancing navigation through search, breadcrumbs, linked footnotes and tables of contents.
https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2012/fall/const-errors.html Fall 2012, Vol. 44, No. 2 "A close study of the way the Constitution has been put on paper—either written or printed—during its long life is sure to call our attention to its smallest faults—its errors of penmanship and typography." Prologue Magazine
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/more-perfect-union Oct 7, 2021 "May 25, 1787, freshly spread dirt covered the cobblestone street in front of the Pennsylvania State House, protecting the men inside from the sound of passing carriages and carts...Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, the "financier" of the Revolution, opened the proceedings with a nomination--Gen. George Washington for the presidency of the Constitutional Convention. The vote was unanimous." On This Page A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution | The Articles of Confederation | The Delegates | The Virginia Plan | The New Jersey Plan | Hamilton's Plan | The Great Compromise | The First Draft | The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists | Ratification | The Bill of Rights | The Document Enshrined National Archives America's Founding Documents
A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution | The Articles of Confederation | The Delegates | The Virginia Plan | The New Jersey Plan | Hamilton's Plan | The Great Compromise | The First Draft | The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists | Ratification | The Bill of Rights | The Document Enshrined
https://csac.history.wisc.edu/document-collections/constitutional-debates Mar 15, 2022 "Constitutional Debates Throughout the ratification period, Americans debated the theory and practical applications of governance. These debates were of fundamental importance as their outcome determined the basic character and components of the federal government." University of Wisconsin-Madison
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/downloads provides images of America's Founding Documents; these include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights, and additional amendments.
https://constitutioncenter.org has numerous resources about the United States Constitution.
https://guides.loc.gov/constitution Signed on September 17, 1787, the Constitution established the government of the United States. This guide provides access to digital collections at the Library of Congress, external websites, and print materials related to the Constitution.
https://www.consource.org connects hundreds of thousands of American citizens of all ages annually to our rich constitutional history by creating a comprehensive, easily searchable, fully-indexed, and freely accessible digital library of historical sources related to the creation, ratification, and amendment of the United States Constitution. Our digital collections are supported by cutting-edge research led by the Quill Project at Oxford University and are enhanced with resources designed to meet the needs of scholars and legal practitioners, educators and students, journalists and the general public.
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-q-and-a provides a good overview of how the federal government came into existence.
https://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/articles-of-confederation contains information about the first constitution of the United States and also high-resolution scans.
http://www.schoolhouserock.tv/Preamble.html is a song and cartoon that helps students memorize the introduction to the Constitution.
http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_pre.html breaks down and explains the phrases of the introduction.
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams2/preamble.htm diagrams the entire sentence to identify the key terms.
http://www.heritage.org/constitution#!/articles/0/essays/1/preamble is an essay by Forrest McDonald that explains the history and meaning of the introduction to the Constitution.
https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/media-library "Check out the latest constitutional content from the National Constitution Center. Listen to our weekly We the People podcasts; watch America’s Town Hall programs held live in Philadelphia and across the country; and stay informed about Constitution issues in the news with analysis from the Constitution Daily blog."
http://www.heritage.org/constitution/content/pdf/Teaching-Companion-Web-FULL-Version.pdf has numerous lessons to help students better understand the Constitution.
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources/study-for-the-test requires all immigrants to pass a civics test for American citizenship. All Americans should know the answers to the 100 question Civics Test before graduating high school.
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/20/take-the-quiz-what-we-don-t-know.html is a Newsweek article that offers a quiz of the 100 question American Civics Test.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters is maintained by the National Archives and contains high quality images and accurate transcriptions of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/tocs/toc.html is a collection of "thoughts, opinions, and arguments of the Founders" that will further help constitutional studies.
http://www.usconstitution.net provides a lot of text-based information about the United States Constitution and links to State constitutions.
http://www.nccs.net/index.html has many resources related to the Constitution, the Founders, and the foundations of liberty.
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action publishes an excellent quarterly newsletter that has lessons about world, U.S., and government. Numerous issues are archived on this site in the PDF format.
https://www.270towin.com/maps/270towin-election-night-map provides a great tool to better understand how the Electoral College works to elect the President of the United States.
http://www.history.com/videos/the-electoral-college is a four-minute video produced and hosted by the History Channel explaining how the president is elected.
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html explains how the system works and is a section hosted by the National Archives.
http://www.courtsed.org/courts-in-the-classroom is an interactive site that uses Flash pictures and animations to explain concepts about civics and the judicial branch.
http://www.constitution.org/cs_found.htm contains numerous primary source documents that established the United States.
http://icivics.org has a variety of high interest constitutional learning games for students to play.
http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/sd is a site that shares information about all candidates, propositions, and other voting information.
http://www.ij.org shares numerous legal cases dealing with Economic Liberty, Private Property, School Choice, and First Amendment issues to bring public awareness how the importance of the Bill of Rights.
https://constituteproject.org Mar 7, 2023 "The World's Constitutions to Read, Search, and Compare...A comprehensive analysis of the world's constitutions, to support constitutional design and to inform citizens." About: "New constitutions are written every year. The people who write these important documents need to read and analyze texts from other places. And citizens need to know, and to be able to understand, what’s in their countries’ foundational documents. Constitute offers access to the world’s constitutions so that users can systematically compare them across a broad set of topics—using an inviting, clean interface." Comparative Constitutions Project
https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2012/09/05/constitution-225-theres-a-fifth-page-the-public-has-never-seen-sept-5 Sep 5, 2012 "This year, for the first time, visitors will be able to see what is sometimes referred to as the “fifth page” of the Constitution—the Resolutions of Transmittal to the Continental Congress. A special display for the 225th anniversary of the Constitution in September, will feature this document. “It’s up there with the Constitution in terms of value,” says curator Alice Kamps." https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2012/09/05/constitution-225-theres-a-fifth-page-the-public-has-never-seen-sept-5/#jp-carousel-12206 National Archives Blogs
https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/rediscovery/11460_2003_001_a.jpg Sep 17, 1787 "Resolved, That it is the Opinion of this Convention, that as soon as the Conventions of nine States shall have ratified this Constitution, the United States in Congress assembled should fix a Day on which Electors should be appointed by the States which shall have ratified the same, and a Day on which the Electors should assemble to vote for the President, and the Time and Place for commencing Proceedings under this Constitution. That after such Publication the Electors should be appointed, and the Senators and Representatives elected: That the Electors should meet on the Day fixed for the Election of the President, and should transmit their Votes certified, signed, sealed and directed, as the Constitution requires, to the Secretary of the United States in Congress assembled, that the Senators and Representatives should convene at the Time and Place assigned; that the Senators should appoint a President of the Senate, for the sole Purpose of receiving, opening and counting the Votes for President; and, that after he shall be chosen, the Congress, together with the President, should, without Delay, proceed to execute this Constitution." National Archives Catalog
https://www.constitutionfacts.com Sep 17, 2025 "Welcome to ConstitutionFacts.com where you'll see the entire text of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence - and much more! You'll find interesting insights into the men who wrote the Constitution, how it was created, and how the Supreme Court has interpreted the United States Constitution in the two centuries since its creation." Pocket Constitution
https://online.kidsdiscover.com/unit/constitution Sep 17, 2025 "The battle to write, ratify, and enforce the Constitution, for kids, is the focus of this critical issue in American History." Kids Discover
https://www.heritage.org/the-essential-constitution/the-genius-the-constitution Mar 14, 2023 "Helping Americans appreciate the Constitution and defend its meaning and purpose....The Framers knew that human nature made this a difficult task. James Madison, for example, wrote that “[i]f men were angels, no government would be necessary” and that “[i]f angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” The challenge they faced was that “[y]ou must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself." The Essential Constitution
https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/constitutional-convention/washingtons-constitution "Americans generally recognize George Washington’s indispensable role as commander in chief of American forces during the Revolutionary War and as the first president under the United States Constitution...Many know he presided over the convention that drafted the Constitution, but few today fully appreciate his key role in forging and framing that document. If James Madison was the Constitution’s chief architect, as some textbooks say, then Washington was its general contractor in that he, more than anyone, got the work done."
Retirement from Public Life | Self-Government | Constitutional Convention | Virginia Plan | Structure and Powers of Congress | Washington's Influence | The Executive | Finally Approved George Washington's ★ Mount Vernon
http://www.constitutioncenter.org/lincoln/# has an interactive game in which Lincoln shares information about choices he had to make related to slavery and running for elected office.
https://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2012/nr12-161.html Sep 13, 2012 "Washington, DC…As part of the celebration of the document’s 225th anniversary, the National Archives will for the first time exhibit the so-called “Fifth Page” of the Constitution of the United States. It will be on display from Friday, September 14, through Wednesday, September 19, 2012, in the East Rotunda Gallery in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Museum hours are 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. daily, but the museum will open late at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, September 17 (Constitution Day). The fifth page is also known as the transmittal page of the Constitution and the Resolutions of the Constitutional Convention. This document, signed by George Washington, who presided over the Constitutional Convention, describes how the Constitution was to be ratified and put into effect." National Archives
https://www.govinfo.gov/features/constitution-citizenship-day-2021 Sep 17, 2021 "Commemorating the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution, and recognizing those who have become U.S. citizens. The signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention established America’s national government and fundamental laws. At the 1787 convention delegates formulated a plan for a stronger government establishing three branches – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial – along with a system of checks and balances ensuring no single branch would have too much power. It wasn’t until 2004 that the holiday took on the full name it bears today. In 2004, a law was enacted renaming the holiday “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day,” (36 U.S.C. 106) requiring public schools and institutions to provide information on the history of the country’s Constitution." GOVInfo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_state_legislatures provides information about the terms used for the legislative branches of all 50 states.
http://history.house.gov/Institution/Seniority/40-Years has a list of the 28 Members who have served for this length of time and includes their Party, State, Days in Office, Years in Office, and Start Date.
https://www.senate.gov/senators/Biographical/longest_serving.htm compiles the current list of 25 that includes the Senator, Dates of Service, and total Length of Service.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/federalism Dec 1, 2022 "In the United States, the Constitution has established a system of “dual sovereignty,” under which the States have surrendered many of their powers to the Federal Government, but also retained some sovereignty. Examples of this dual sovereignty are described in the U.S. Constitution." Legal Information Institute
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces means "bundle" and is a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe blade emerging from the center, which symbolizes power and jurisdiction through strength and unity.
https://www.izzit.org/constitution/index.php includes these videos available from izzit: The U.S. Constitution & Black History, First Amendment, Becoming Equal Under the Law, Women's Suffrage and ERA, Brown v. Board of Education Case, A Republic, Plessy v. Ferguson Case, Dred Scott Case, Eminent Domain – The Kelo Case, Eminent Domain – Atlantic City Story, Magna Carta, Thurgood Marshall - First African-American Supreme Court Justice
http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/info.html provides English translations of and other textual material related to constitutional documents. It cross-references those documents for quick comparison of constitutional provisions.
MiniPage14798The Constitution An Alphabetical Salute pt1.pdf
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