Re-examining the Constitution
Read CQ Researcher's in-depth look at the constitution on its 225th anniversary (2012).
Research Starting Points
- U.S. Constitution: OverviewPoints of View Reference Center
Historical Research Tools
- America: History and Life with Full Text This link opens in a new windowComprehensive access to literature on the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. Covers 1,600 academic journals, 270 magazines, dissertations and more, published from 1863 to the present.
- American History in Video (Alexander Street) This link opens in a new windowAmerican History in Video provides a collection of video available online for the study of American history, with 2,000 hours and more than 5,000 titles on completion. The collection provides access to commercial and governmental newsreels, archival footage, public affairs footage, and documentaries.
- Gale Primary Sources This link opens in a new windowGale's cross-search interface for 17th and 18th Century Burney Collection Newspapers, 19th Century British Newspapers,
Eighteenth Century Collections, Nineteenth Century Collections, Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers, The Sunday Times Digital Archive, The Times Digital Archive, and the Times Literary Supplement Historical Archive.
Constitution Day on the Web
- Read the ConstitutionRead online or download a PDF copy. From the Bill of Rights Institute.
- The Constitution CenterResources for Constitution Day from the Constitution Center
- Interactive ConstitutionFrom the Constitution Center
- The Constitution ProjectFrom the The Project On Government Oversight (POGO)
- Observing Constitution DayFrom the National Archives, resources to help teach and learn about the Constitution.
Print and online books at Murphy Library
Jefferson, Madison, and the Making of the Constitution by Call Number: KF4520 .B76 2019 2nd Floor StacksISBN: 9781469651019Publication Date: 2019
A Pocket Guide to the US Constitution : What Every American Needs to Know, by Call Number: KF4550.Z9 ONLINEISBN: 9781626165595Publication Date: 2018Second edition.
Constitution of the United States of America : analysis and interpretation : analysis of cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 28, 2012
This link opens in a new window
Call Number: KF4527 .U54 ReferenceISBN: 0160917352current ed., including latest supplement
also ONLINE
Fault Lines in the Constitution by Call Number: 342.7 Lev Curriculum Childrens (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 9781561459452Publication Date: 2017First edition
This Is Our Constitution by Call Number: 320.97 Kha Curriculum Childrens (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 9781524770914Publication Date: 2017First edition
Original Intents by Call Number: E302.5 .S527 2018 2nd Floor StacksISBN: 9780199370139Publication Date: 2017
The Framers' Coup by Call Number: KF4541 .K53 2016 2nd Floor StacksISBN: 9780199942039Publication Date: 2016
Contested Conventions by Call Number: E303 .Y39 2016 2nd Floor StacksISBN: 9781421420264Publication Date: 2016
We the People by Call Number: 342.7 Spi Curriculum Childrens (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 9780385376174Publication Date: 2014
Founding Visions by Call Number: E310 .B219 2014 2nd Floor StacksISBN: 9780813152844Publication Date: 2014
The Annotated U. S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence by Call Number: KF4527 ONLINEISBN: 0674054474Publication Date: 2009
Our Constitution Rocks! by Call Number: 342.7 Tur Curriculum Childrens (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 9780310734215Publication Date: 2012
Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments by Call Number: KF4557 .V555 2010 ReferenceISBN: 9781598843163Publication Date: 20103rd ed.
v.1-2
Essential Supreme Court Decisions by Call Number: KF4547.4 .V55 2010 ReferenceISBN: 9781442203846Publication Date: 2010Fifteenth edition.
Summaries of leading cases in U.S. constitutional law
The Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence by Call Number: Y 1.1/3:111-4 Government Documents Federal (basement)ISBN: 9780160836961Publication Date: 2009
The Constitution of the United States of America by Call Number: KF4550 .T869 2009 2nd Floor StacksISBN: 9781841137384Publication Date: 2009
The Constitution of the United States of America as Amended; Unratified Amendments; Analytical Index, July 25 2007 by Call Number: KF4527 .U543 2007 ONLINE and ReferenceISBN: 9780160790911Publication Date: 2008
The Constitution by Call Number: 342.7 Fin Curriculum Childrens (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 9780792279754Publication Date: 2005
A guide for learning and teaching the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution : learning from the original texts using classical learning methods of the founders by Call Number: 342 A52 Curriculum Professional (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 9780971189102Publication Date: 2001Encyclopedia of the American Constitution by
Call Number: KF4548 .E53 2000 ReferenceISBN: 0028648803Publication Date: 20002nd ed.
v.1-v.6
We the People-- Do Ordain and Establish This Constitution for the United States of America by Call Number: 342 W369 Curriculum Professional (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 0898181267Publication Date: 1987pt.1-2
Our Living Constitution - Then and Now by Call Number: 342.02 A84 Curriculum Professional (2nd floor, North)ISBN: 0866533869Publication Date: 1986
Research Assistance
Librarians can help you learn to make the most of the information resources, tools, and services of Murphy Library and beyond!
Weekdays & Sunday afternoons (fall/spring):
Any time (year-round):
- Email us -- we'll email you back asap
- Schedule an appointment (in-person or online)
Local history and/or archives research? Special Collections / Area Research Center specialists are available!
- Email us at specoll@uwlax.edu
- Call us at 608.785.8511
Constitution Quiz
Constitution Puzzles
Constitutional Crosswords
Try your hand at a puzzle or two.
Constitution Annotated
- Constitution AnnotatedPrepared by the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service, The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation provides a comprehensive overview of how the Constitution has been interpreted over time and is now available on this new site with upgraded search capabilities. The online Constitution Annotated includes discussions of the Supreme Court’s latest opinions.