The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and went into effect in 1781. They were soon found inadequate for smooth governmental operations, particularly as they related to the functioning of the federal government. As a result, a Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17,…

"Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Constitution" is an engaged-learning activity that has been conducted in 26 classes over the past four years. The activity teaches multiple themes commonly included in a variety of courses on American politics such as federalism, congressional powers, the role of the federal courts, and the relevance of the commerce…

In planning a freshman undergraduate curriculum with colleagues recently, the question arose as to what type of understanding educators wanted to impart to their students about the Constitution. The alleged defects of the Constitution that these books point to are wide-ranging and can be classified into various categories. Some problems--such as…

The last 50 years have seen a massive increase in the federal role in public education in the United States and a marked increase in the tension between the federal government and the states with respect to control over education. This article investigates the history of education in America, particularly with respect to federal versus state…

Central banking in the United States has a long and controversial history dating back to the earliest days of the republic. One of the most widely presented arguments against a central bank has been that the U.S. Constitution does not expressly grant the federal government power to charter a bank. Recently, this issue has received new scrutiny in…

This report outlines the case for an education amendment to the US Constitution to reduce radical disparities in the allocation of resources and funds for the education of the nation's public school students. The report argues that an education amendment is the best way to fundamentally reform the "structural arrangements" that are…

Discusses the following five myths and suggests ways of using them to teach about the Constitution: (1) the Bill of Rights is the Constitution's heart; (2) reactionary commercial interests created the Constitution to maintain the status quo; (3) the structure is antidemocratic; (4) it sanctioned slavery; and (5) it made the legislature supreme.…

This commemorative document was published to celebrate the Bicentennial of the signing of the U.S. Constitution and to pay tribute to the bicentennial celebration efforts of the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration staff. The included articles are: (1) "Introduction: A Celebration at the National Archives" (F. Burke); (2)…

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 is a fundamental document in the development of the United States. It is outranked in importance only by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The immediate purpose of the Northwest Ordinance was to provide government for the largely unsettled lands north and west of the Ohio River. In promising…

The American Constitution is a secular document, shaped by secular political philosophers, but sanctified with popular attitudes derived from religion, especially from the Protestant impulse. That impulse has imbued the Constitution with the idea of "bettering oneself" and of economic progress, and made it the cornerstone of an American…

Diversity in American constitutional law refers to differences among the laws of the states. However, key phrases in the Constitution have been used to ensure individual rights. The expansion of those rights has led to conflict between community needs and those of the individual, with each side referring to the Constitution for support. (PS)

The constitutional mandate of separation of powers preserves liberty and slows the pace of political change. Defects in this system are discussed. Remedies for the defects must be found in the "unwritten constitution," comprised of customs and arrangements that allow the government to work. (PS)

The questions that observers of Congress have posed throughout U.S. history continue to confront citizens: how have the constitutional powers of Congress adapted to new conditions, and how has this affected Congress's relations with the other branches of government. Congress, in its constitutional design, is part of the remedy for the problems of…

The purpose of this United States Constitution Bicentennial celebration booklet is to provide ideas and suggestions for Citizenship Day and Constitution Week commemorative activities. Part 1 describes the meaning and history of these commemorative events, and part 2 discusses the history of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and the…

Discusses the dilemma faced by constitutionalism today: limited, constitutional government requires that people and society be independent and distrustful of the state, but if the people are too independent and capable of ruling, they may wish to extend their powers and attempt to rule over others. (PS)