The United States Constitution and Other Founding Documents

• Text of the Constitution
• 1787: Constitutional Convention and Ratification by the States
• Other Internet Sites Related to the Constitution
• Other Founding Documents
• Internet Sources for More Founding Documents

Text of the Constitution

The Constitution of the United States of America, Analysis and Interpretation (U.S. Government Printing Office)
Paper copy available at the Government Documents Service Desk.

Popularly known as The Constitution Annotated, this work includes the complete text of the Constitution, as well as extensive commentary and citations to selected Supreme Court cases. The online version is searchable by keyword.

FindLaw's Constitution page has the document divided up into smaller sections for the Web and has hyperlinks added between the sections, as well as links to Supreme court cases cited in the annotations.

The National Archives and Records Administration’s Constitution page has images of the original manuscript, as well as historical background information.

United States Code Annotated (Located on Willis Library Third Floor, under Call Number KF62 .U51) includes the text of the Constitution, annotated with references to related court cases, in the first several volumes (preceding Title 1). Be sure to check the pocket part for updates. 

Bill of Rights (Constitution Society)

Original text of first twelve proposed amendments. Ten of these became the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. One was never ratified, and another was not ratified until 1992.

 Additional Amendments to the Constitution (Constitution Society)

Shows date of proposal and ratification; includes some amendments that were proposed but never ratified.

1787: Constitutional Convention and Ratification by the States

A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution (National Archives)

Historical background on how the Constitution came to be written.

America's Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention (National Archives)

An image and short biography of each of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

The Madison Debates (The Avalon Project at the Yale Law School)
Paper copy available on Third Floor of Willis Library under call number 342 Un3de.

The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, which framed the Constitution of the United States of America, were edited by Gaillard Hund and James Brown Scott from extensive notes taken by James Madison during the convention.

Farrand’s Records (American Memory - Library of Congress)
Paper copy available on Third Floor of Willis Library under call number KF4510 .U547 1937 V.1–4.

The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, compiled by Max Farrand and published in 1911, are the best source for discussions of the Constitutional Convention. This work includes James Madison's notes, as well as notes and letters by many other participants, and various constitutional plans proposed during the Convention. 

Elliot’s Debates (American Memory - Library of Congress)
Paper copy available on Third Floor of Willis Library under call number KF4502 .E5 1968 V.1–5.

The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, compiled by Jonathan Elliot in the mid-nineteenth century, are still the best source of information for the period between the closing of the Constitutional Convention in September 1787 and the opening of the first Federal Congress in March 1789.

This work includes the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Journal of the Constitutional Convention, the text of the proposed Constitution, and the debates in the various states. 

Federalist Papers (THOMAS)
Paper copy available on Third Floor of Willis Library under call number JK154 1961b.

The Federalist Papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, and published during 1787 and 1788 to persuade New York voters to ratify the proposed Constitution, are among the most important primary sources regarding the original intent of the founding fathers. This site includes keyword search engine, list of titles, historical background, and link to full downloadable text. 

Other Internet Sites Related to the Constitution

National Constitution Center

A unique, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded by Congress to engage Americans in the story of the Constitution and how it affects our daily lives.

Constitution Society

A private, nonprofit organization dedicated to research and public education on the principles of constitutional republican government.

Constitutional Law Materials (Cornell)

Brief overview of the subject with links to primary sources.

CongressLink Glossary (Fountain Communications, Inc.)

Definitions and brief explanations of terms related to Congress and to the United States Constitution.

Constitutional Law and Rights (The 'Lectric Law Library)

Extensive links to articles on various Internet sites.

Other Founding Documents

Constitution of the Iroquois Nations (Internet History Sourcebooks Project)

This Native American oral document, reconstructed here by archeologist Arthur C. Parker from legend and spoken history, is reputed by many to have been a model for the U.S. Constitution.

For the historical background and an explanation of this document, see "The Constitution of the Five Nations; or, The Iroquois Book of the Great Law," by Arthur C. Parker, reprinted in Parker on the Iroquois, Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, New York, 1968 [Available at UNT under call number E99.I7 P25 1968].

Mayflower Compact (The History Place™)

This compact established the first basis in the New World for written laws.

The Declaration of Independence (National Archives and Records Administration)

Includes transcription of the text, images of the original manuscript and the 1823 Stone engraving, and links to articles that provide historical background.

The History Channel's Declaration of Independence page has a history of the writing of the Declaration, interpretation of the text, biographies of the signers, and other resources for teachers and students.

Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents is an exhibition by the Library of Congress showcasing its collection of images and rare documents and describing the steps in the creation of the Declaration of Independence, from Jefferson's “original Rough draught” to final publication.

Articles of Confederation (The Avalon Project at the Yale Law School)

This document established the United States of America as a loose confederacy of independent states, but proved unsatisfactory because of the subordinate position held by the central government. 

The Annapolis Convention called for a meeting to consider revising the Articles of Confederation, and that meeting led to the drafting of an entirely new Constitution of the United States.

Internet Sources for More Founding Documents

Historical Documents (THOMAS - Library of Congress)

Browsable copies of Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, and other early documents. Includes background information on each document and search engine for keyword searching.

Founding Documents (Constitution Society)

Hypertext copy of correct version of U.S. Constitution along with scanned copy of the original manuscript. Also includes Declaration of Independence, Federalist Papers, Athenian Constitution, Iroquois Constitution, Magna Carta, Declaration of the Rights of Man, Supreme Court decisions, and more.

Historical Text Archive: United States (Mississippi State)

This site contains many important legal documents related to the founding of the United States of America. See especially these sections: colonial and Revolution.

Biographies of the Founding Fathers (Colonial Hall)

Biographical sketches of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution.