Constitution Day

Pardon Our Noise

We wish to apologize for construction noise in the building. The library is currently undergoing renovations to increase the safety of the building. Please look at the Cornette Library Maintenance and Renovations Libguide for more information.

Door Closure Update: The South entrance of the library will temporarily be closed on Thursday, 11/13/25, and Friday, 11/14/25 due to some maintenance on the security gates. The East entrance into the library will be opened temporarily while the South entrance is closed. Once the repair work at the South entrance is completed on Friday, the South entrance will re-open and the East entrance will be closed again. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

United States Constitution

Articles of Confederation: 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.
Constitution (via Cornell Law School): Text of the Constitution with links to annotations.
Constitution of the United States Annotated: Analysis and Interpretations (govinfo.gov): Browse alphabetical list. Includes historical and most recent edition and most recent supplement.
The Annenberg Guide to the United States Constitution: For each article and amendment: what it says, what it means.

Historic Records

Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution: 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.
Federalist Papers: 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.
Anti-Federalist Papers: Of the many writings debating against the ratification of the Constitution, eight-five are featured here.
FindLaw U.S. Constitution: Explore links for detailed annotations on legal cases interpreting each article and amendment to the Constitution.
Records of the Federal Convention of 1787: 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.

Celebrate Constitution Day

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (National Archives): 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.
Constitution Day Resources: Dr. Dave Rausch of WTAMU and his spouse, Mary Rausch of the Cornette Library, have put together a great list of links for Constitution Day.