Audience

Intended for everyone interested in US History, particularly undergraduate, graduate, and law students studying US Constitution and Government.

Features

• Clear and concise explanations.
• Search for words or phrases.
• Add Bookmarks
• Text annotation and mark-up
• Access the guide anytime, anywhere - at home, on the train, in the subway.
• Use your down time to prepare for an exam.
• Always have the guide available for a quick reference.

Table of Contents

I. Constitution (text only)

Preamble and Articles | Bill of Rights | Subsequent Amendments

II. Constitution (with analysis)

Constitution: Preamble | Article 1 | Article 2 | Article 3 | Article 4 | Article 5 | Article 6 | Article 7

Amendments: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27

III. History, Clauses, and Interpretation

Founding Documents: Declaration of Independence (1776) | Articles of Confederation (1777) | Constitution (1787) | Bill of Rights (1789)

Formation: History of the Constitution | Articles of Confederation | Annapolis Convention | Philadelphia Convention | New Jersey Plan | Virginia Plan | Connecticut Compromise | Signatories

Adoption: Massachusetts Compromise | Federalist Papers

Amendments: Bill of Rights | Ratified | Unsuccessful | Conventions to propose | State ratifying conventions

Clauses: Appointments | Case or controversy | Citizenship | Commerce | Commerce (Dormant) | Confrontation | Contract | Copyright | Due Process | Equal Protection | Establishment | Exceptions | Free Exercise | Full Faith and Credit | Impeachment | Natural–born citizen | Necessary and Proper | No Religious Test | Presentment | Privileges and Immunities (Art. IV) | Privileges or Immunities (14th Amend.) | Speech or Debate | Supremacy | Suspension | Takings Clause | Taxing and Spending | Territorial | War Powers

Interpretation: Congressional power of enforcement | Double jeopardy | Enumerated powers | Incorporation of the Bill of Rights | Nondelegation | Preemption | Separation of church and state | Separation of powers | Constitutional theory | Executive privilege

III. Government

Before Constitution: Colonial Government in America | US under Articles of Confederation | Constitutional Convention | Ratification

Constitution: Three Branches of Government | Federal System | General Provisions | Bill of Rights | Later Amendments

Present Government Structure: Legislative Branch | Executive Branch | Judicial Branch

President: Vice President | Cabinet

Congress: Senate | House

Federal courts: Supreme Court | Chief Justice | Associate Justices

Elections: Presidential elections | Midterm elections

Political Parties: Democratic | Republican | Third parties