Library Guides: CAS 478: Contemporary American Political Rhetoric: U.S. Constitution

This content courtesy of Helen Sheehy's "Constitution of the United States" library guide

U.S. Constitution

Basic Texts

Analysis

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedia of the American Constitution
articles cover the key concepts of constitutional law, key cases, and individuals who have played a role in the development of our constitution.
Encyclopedia of the First Amendment
focuses on some of our most cherished freedoms: speech, religion, press, and assembly — as well as the right to petition the government.
Constitutional Amendments: Beyond the Bill of Rights
Most citizens are familiar with the first 10 amendments that make up the bill of rights, but some later amendments are just as important if not more so, covering everything from women's suffrage to prohibition.
The U.S. Constitution: A-Z
shorter, more concise articles on constitutional issues and cases.

Constitutional History

To Form a More Perfect Union
An essay from the Library of Congress' American Memory Project on the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention.
Declaration of Independence (1776)
An expression of the principles and ideals that are the underpinnings of our country.
Articles of Confederation (1777)
The "first" Constitution of the U.S. the Articles of Confederation bound the new republic together in a loose confederation.
Federalist Papers: Primary Documents in American History [full text]
Written in 1787 and 1788, these papers written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay are essential for understanding the reasoning behind the framer's constitution.
Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline
An online interactive exhibit from the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the timeline highlights key moments in constitutional history through, text, video, audio, and graphic media.
Elliot's Debates: The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution
The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution is a five-volume collection compiled by Jonathan Elliot in the mid-19th century.
Farrand's Records: The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787
Published in 1911, Max Farrand's The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 gathered the documentary records of the Constitutional Convention, making it easier to study the workings of the Constitutional Convention.