The Constitution

The U.S. Constitution is the second government formed after The Articles of Confederation failed to meet the nation's changing needs. The Constitution was written in 116 days at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1787. Its purpose was to replace the Articles of Confederation with a better government to meet the growing nation's needs.

The Bill of Rights: How the First Ten Amendments Came to Be

The Bill of Rights — the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution — remains one of the ...

How Pennsylvania Became the Second State to Ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 12, 1787

When delegates concluded the Constitutional Convention in September 1787, each state faced the monumental decision of whether to ...

Habeas Corpus: The Ancient Right That Protects Us All

Imagine one day waking up to find the government removing you from your home and locking you away ...

The 27th Amendment: A Lesson in Persistence

The 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution stands out as an extraordinary example of democracy in action. ...

The 17th Amendment: A Constitutional Shift in Senatorial Elections

When the United States Constitution was drafted in 1787, the method for selecting U.S. senators was carefully designed ...

Balancing Power: The U.S. Checks and Balances System

The United States' system of checks and balances is a cornerstone of its constitutional democracy, designed to ensure ...

The 15th Amendment: A Step Toward Equality

The 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is one of the most important achievements in American history. It ...

The 18th Amendment: America’s Experiment with Prohibition

The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, marked the beginning of Prohibition, ...

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Ending Slavery in America

The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution is one of the most pivotal achievements in American history. ...