Full text of the first Constitution, effective 1781. When a stronger federal government became necessary, the present U.S. Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.
Debates and background materials on the adoption of the Federal Constitution in the State Conventions. Use Index to browse for states. May search the full text.
A series of 85 essays written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison on the provisions of the Constitution. Published under the pseudonym Publius. Used widely today to interpret the intentions of the authors of the Constitution.
Besides notes written by James Madison, has notes and letters written by many others at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Includes proposed constitutional plans. Three of the four volumes are online.
View high resolution images of the original, signed Constitution; see a transcription of the document; read the history of the Constitutional Convention; learn dozens of fascinating facts about the Constitution which was signed on September 17, 1787.