Constitutional Topics

The First Amendment, influenced by the philosophical ideals of the Enlightenment, reflects the passionate debates that shaped the American republic. Figures like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison , inspired by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke , advocated for the virtues of freedom and...

The Constitution has evolved significantly due to Supreme Court decisions and legal interpretations. These alterations extend beyond the familiar 27 amendments, showcasing how legal minds have shaped its application through reinterpretation in response to changing societal needs. Initially, the...

The Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 marked the beginning of the formal women's suffrage movement in the United States. The convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York, brought together over three hundred people, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott . The outcome included the...

The concept of checks and balances can trace its earliest known philosophical roots to Polybius in ancient Rome, who articulated the principle of "anacyclosis" which effectively presaged contemporary ideas of balance in political governance by suggesting that a stable state balanced the powers of...

God in the State Constitutions Advertisement The subject of God in the Constitution arises from time to time, and this site deals with the topic specifically elsewhere. However, another question also arises: how is God referenced, if at all, in state constitutions? This list is not guaranteed to be...

2007 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2007. 12/13/07 Bush vetoes another children’s health insurance bill Calling it a virtual duplicate of a bill he vetoed just two...

1999 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 1999. 12/30/99 Judge denies restraining order against DVD copying software In what defendants are calling a blow for free speech and...

2001 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2001. 12/10/01 Rights of parolees restricted by Supreme Court The Supreme Court today ruled that if a prisoner agrees to warrantless...

2002 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2002. 12/24/02 Bush issues pardons President George Bush exercised his pardon power for the first time today, pardoning seven...

2003 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2003. 12/15/03 New rules for automotive arrests set by Court A unanimous Supreme Court authorized arrest of all passengers in a car...

2004 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2004. 12/13/04 Edwards gets one electoral vote – for President Minnesota officials were not quite sure what to do when John...

2005 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2005. 12/20/05 Pennsylvania court rebukes Intelligent Design instruction In a strongly-worded judgement against supporters of...

2006 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2006. 12/26/06 President Ford dies President Gerald Ford, 38th president of the United States, died today. Ford rose to office in...

2000 News Archive This page is an archive of articles presented on the Current News page of the USConstitution.net site. On this page are articles that were posted in 2000. 12/28/00 2000 census figures released The U.S. Census has released state population totals from the 2000 enumeration. Eight...

Constitutional Topic: Rights and Responsibilities The Constitutional Topics pages at the USConstitution.net site are presented to delve deeper into topics than can be provided on the Glossary Page or in the FAQ pages . This Topic Page concerns Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities. Generally...

Constitutional Topic: Separation of Powers The Constitutional Topics pages at the USConstitution.net site are presented to delve deeper into topics than can be provided on the Glossary Page or in the FAQ pages . This Topic Page concerns the Separation of Powers. The concept of Separation of Powers...

Constitutional Topic: Slavery Advertisement The Constitutional Topics pages at the USConstitution.net site are presented to delve deeper into topics than can be provided on the Glossary Page or in the FAQ pages . This Topic Page concerns Slavery. Slavery is mentioned in two main places in the...

Constitutional Topic: Student Rights The Constitutional Topics pages at the USConstitution.net site are presented to delve deeper into topics than can be provided on the Glossary Page or in the FAQ pages . This Topic Page concerns Student Rights. Generally speaking, the Constitution applies equally...

Constitutional Topic: Presidential Line of Succession Advertisement The Constitutional Topics pages at the USConstitution.net site are presented to delve deeper into topics than can be provided on the Glossary Page or in the FAQ pages . This Topic Page concerns the Presidential Line of Succession....

Constitutional Topic: Political Systems Advertisement This page concerns Political Systems. The Constitution describes the U.S. political system. This document will describe political systems in general, and then use specific examples of real-world political systems. In the course of creating this...