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Constitutional Issues

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Book & Manuscript Tips
  • Search these Library of Congress subject headings in , the library's online catalog:
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    • constitutional law
    • United States
    • constitutional amendments
    • bill of rights
    • politics and government
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    • press law
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    • advertising laws
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  • Any book you find which we don't have may be requested through Interlibrary Loan. Allow a week to 10 days.
  • Try searching UNT Digital Library to find Congressional Research Reports on your topic.
Article Tips

Constitution

The U.S. Bill of Rights

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Free Expression

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Free Speech Zones
Advertising

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Reproductive Rights

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To Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances - Protesting/Activism/Litigation

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Corporate Personhood
Campaign Finance

Legal Reference titles related to this topic:

Property Rights
Eminent Domain: Public Use vs. Public Benefit
  • , 545 U.S. 469 (2005)
Civil Asset Forfeiture
  • , 524 U.S. 321 (1998)
Gun Control
Civil Rights
Affirmative Action
Voting Rights
Same-Sex Marriage
Immigration
Reproductive Rights
Genetics
Medicine
Agriculture
Law Enforcement

Famous Supreme Court Cases

  • , 5 U.S. 137 (1803)
  • (1857)
  • (1954)
  • (1965)
  • (1968)
  • (1969)
  • (1973)

Legal Treatises