Guides: Constitutional Law and History Research Guide: Introduction/Key Resources

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Introduction

This guide offers an introduction to essential resources for conducting constitutional law research. The U.S. Constitution, often regarded as the world's oldest written constitution still in effect, serves as the cornerstone of American law. Constitutional law encompasses the interpretation and implementation of the Constitution and includes a wide range of subjects. These subjects span from the framework regulating federal, state, and local governments, to the protection of individual rights in relation to both state and federal authorities.

When engaging in constitutional law research, it is crucial to recognize that the process is often about exploring various interpretive approaches rather than seeking definitive answers. The field draws on a broad spectrum of sources that guide constitutional interpretation, making it as much about understanding context as it is about finding legal precedents.

Given the expansive nature of constitutional law, we typically recommend that you start your research with secondary sources such as treatises or legal encyclopedias to help you more quickly identify the focus of your research. These other guides provides general guidance on identifying relevant sources, while this research guide includes information on finding historical documents and resources for U.S. Constitutional history research, primary sources, secondary sources for U.S. Constitutional law, and material on state constitutional law research.

As the U.S. Supreme Court plays an integral role in interpreting the Constitution, the study of this area also focuses heavily on the Supreme Court justices and the Court’s rulings. For more information on primary and secondary materials relating to the Supreme Court, consult the Supreme Court Research Guide.

Getting Started: Key Resources

The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation
Popularly known as the "Constitution Annotated," this free online source, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, contains historical notes and legal analysis and interpretation of the United States Constitution based primarily on Supreme Court case law.
Encyclopedia of the American Constitution (Levy et al., 2nd ed.)
This six-volume work contains essays by leading constitutional scholars, law school professors, judges, historians, and political scientists on practical and theoretical topics dealing with every aspect of constitutional law in the U.S., from the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to the Clinton impeachment.
Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Constitution (2016)
The Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Constitution covers the Founding of the American Republic and the Framers, the drafting of the Constitution, constitutional debates over ratification, and traces key events, Supreme Court chief justices, amendments, and Supreme Court cases regarding the interpretation of the Constitution from 1789-2016.
Lexis: Constitutional Law
Select your area of focus to research, be it Secondary Sources, Statutes or Administrative Material.
Modern Constitutional Law
Legal treatise providing analysis of modern constitutional law. Issues covered include religion; the first amendment; privacy; private property, freedom of enterprise; freedom of contract; equal protection; civil and criminal justice; states and the federal government; federalism; separation of powers; and constitutional litigation.
Oxford Constitutional Law: US Constitutional Law
US Constitutional Law provides a comprehensive research resource on the law, politics, and history of constitutionalism in the United States at the federal and state levels. Combining extensive primary materials with expert commentary, the service provides researchers with unparalleled access to the historical development of federal and state constitutionalism.
Rotunda and Nowak's Treatise on Constitutional Law
Legal treatise providing up-to-date analysis of every area of federal constitutional law. Focus is primarily on the Supreme Court. Coverage includes: origins of judicial review; sources of national authority; federal fiscal powers; procedural due process; and equal protection.