Constitution Day is celebrated in the United States on September 17th. This holiday celebrates the formation and signing of the US Constitution in 1789.
The United States Constitution
A 2023 poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center shows a lot of confusion about the US Constitution among many Americans. This guide is intended to provide basic information about the constitution and guide you to more information.
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States and is the source of government power, while also providing limits on the government in order to protect the fundamental rights of US citizens.
The constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention September 17, 1787 and came into effect March 9, 1789.
The Annenberg Classroom complements the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s findings on the lack of public understanding around the Constitution by providing The Annenberg Guide to the United States Consitution.
You can also read the full text of the Constitution from the National Archives.
Check out this Interactive Constitution tool from ConstitutionCenter.org; it contains podcasts, videos, blog posts and more.
The Branches of Government
- The legislative branch – the House of Representatives and the Senate – passes the laws.
- The executive branch – headed by the president – enforces the laws.
- The judicial branch – headed by the US Supreme Court – evaluates and applies the laws.
Separation of Powers
The constitution is designed to allow each branch of government to “check” the other branches.
- The president can veto legislation passed by Congress
- The president nominates other important members of the government, including the justices of the Supreme Court and the heads of federal agencies
- The Senate reviews and confirms (or rejects) the president’s nominees, including Supreme Court justices
- Congress can remove the president from office in some circumstances
- The justices of the Supreme Court can overturn unconstitutional laws and governmental actions
- The justices of the Supreme Court interpret and apply the laws passed by Congress
Library Resources
Books
- Secular Revelations – by Mitchell Meltzer
- The Idea of America – by Gordon S. Wood
- The Constitution of the United States : In Some of Its Fundamental Aspects – by Gaspar Bacon
- The Constitution of the United States of America As Amended – by Robert Ney
- The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 – by Max Farrand
- Religious Freedom and the Constitution – by Christopher L. Eisgruber and Lawrence G. Sager
- Privacy at Risk: The New Government Surveillance and the Fourth Amendment – by Christopher Slobogin
- The Mythic Meanings of the Second Amendment: Taming Political Violence in a Constitutional Republic – by David C. Williams
- Additional results available from the catalog
Hearings
- State of religious liberty in the United States: Hearings before the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, first session, October 26, 2011
- Proposals to reduce gun violence : protecting our communities while respecting the Second Amendment : hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred T
- The future of drones in America : law enforcement and privacy considerations : hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, first session, March 20, 2013.
- Constitutional limitations on domestic surveillance : hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, first session, June 7, 20
- First Amendment protections on public college and university campuses : hearing before the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, first session, April
These are only some of the many resources we have on the United States Constitution. For individualized research help, please email us at refdesk@clarkson.edu.
Disclaimer
This guide is intended to give a general overview of the Constitution and our system of government, as well as some historical information. It may not contain the most up to date legal information and should not be considered legal advice. For help with up to date legal research email us at refdesk@clarkson.edu. For legal advice, please consult an attorney.