The US Constitution is the foundational legal document of the United States, establishing the framework for the federal government and—through later amendments—outlining the rights of its citizens. Ratified in 1788, the nearly 8,000-word document consists of a preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments. Drafted in 1787, the framers designed the Constitution to replace the weak Articles of Confederation, which had left the federal government unable to tax, regulate commerce, or enforce laws.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
The US presidential election hinges on the Electoral College, not the popular vote—a system created in 1787 as a compromise. Candidates must win 270 of 538 electoral votes, allocated by each state’s congressional representation.
The framers created a demanding amendment process: proposed changes require two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures, ensuring that constitutional amendments reflect a broad national consensus rather than temporary political majorities.
In the US, nine unelected justices can shape some of the most personal and political parts of our lives. But the Supreme Court wasn’t always this powerful. When it was first written into the Constitution, it had no clear authority, no real role, and little public respect.
Amending the Constitution requires substantial and widespread public support. Since 1879, more than 10,000 amendments have been proposed—many repeatedly—ranging from banning flag burning to repealing the income tax. This resource highlights some of the most notable failures.
This podcast episode examines Baker v. Carr, a landmark redistricting ruling that Earl Warren called the most important of his tenure—so divisive it triggered a justice’s breakdown and permanently reshaped American democracy.
Of nearly 12,000 proposed constitutional amendments, only 27 were ratified. This article highlights radical failed proposals that would have renamed the country, abolished the presidency, capped personal wealth, or fundamentally rewritten how American democracy works.
Today, the Constitution and Declaration are displayed at the National Archives. Still, for more than a century, they were kept by other federal institutions—including the State Department and the Library of Congress—before gaining a permanent home in the 1930s.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the structure of the US federal judiciary, creating a six-member Supreme Court, district courts, and circuit courts. It delineated the jurisdiction of these courts and outlined the relationship between state and federal courts. For a comprehensive explanation and the full transcript of the bill, head to this page from the National Archives.
First Amendment litigator and law blogger Ken White hosts this podcast exploring the background of the most important First Amendment cases in American history. Case topics include inflammatory and defamatory speech, freedom of speech for students, and more. Whether you're a legal nerd or just curious about your rights, this podcast breaks it down in an engaging and accessible way.
The Congressional Research Service is a nonpartisan group dedicated solely to responding to questions and providing deeply researched explanations to members of Congress and their staff. The overview lays out the establishment of the US Agency for International Development in 1961, legal restrictions on its elimination, and options to restructure or fold USAID into other departments.