Constitution Week/ Constitution Day/ Citizenship Day

The Articles of the Confederation were the first attempts at creating a constitution.

While debating the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents, demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. the First Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution. Articles 3-12 were ratified and constitute the first 10 ammendments of the Constitution known as the Bill of Rights.

The three documents, The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are collectively known as the Charters of Freedom.

"The Constitution, drafted in 1787 after a hard-won victory in the War for Independence, codified the spirit of the Revolution into an ingenious practical scheme of government to promote the welfare of all its citizens".

In June 1776, Thomas Jefferson composed a draft of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration announced to the world the separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States of America.

web-based analysis and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution

The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation (Centennial Edition, 2013) (opens PDF document, 2800+ pp.)
or browse individual chapters.
The CONAN has evolved from the very beginning as the need was then recognized for a comprehensive guide to our nation's constitution. This guide continues to grow with Supreme Court interpretations of constitutional law.

The Library of Congress offers a free mobile search app to the CONAN.