The U.S. Constitution: Analysis and Interpretation

The Library of Congress continues to provide access to the Constitution Annotated, which is an amazing resource created to help individuals brush up on their history and understanding of the U.S. Constitution. This resource provides interpretation and analysis for each article and amendment of the Constitution.

Additionally, the Library of Congress created a research guide to help users navigate Constitution Annotated. The introduction of this guide states:

“Consistent with the mission of the Library of Congress’s Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation ("Constitution Annotated") provides authoritative, objective, and non-partisan legal analysis of Supreme Court case law and, where relevant, historical practices that have defined the text and interpretation of the Constitution. In publication for over 100 years, the Constitution Annotated provides essential information to Congress and the public at large about the Constitution's history, meaning, and interpretation.”

Curious about a specific article or amendment? Use the list and links below to go directly to topics of interest.

Introduction to the Constitution Annotated
Introduction: Introductory Annotations
Preamble to the Constitution
The Preamble: Annotations about the Preamble
Articles of the Constitution
Article I: Legislative Branch
Article II: Executive Branch
Article III: Judicial Branch
Article IV: Relationships Between the States
Article V: Amending the Constitution
Article VI: Supreme Law
Article VII: Ratification
Amendments to the Constitution
First Amendment: Fundamental Freedoms
Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
Third Amendment: Quartering Soldiers
Fourth Amendment: Searches and Seizures
Fifth Amendment: Rights of Persons
Sixth Amendment: Rights in Criminal Prosecutions
Seventh Amendment: Civil Trial Rights
Eighth Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Ninth Amendment: Unenumerated Rights
Tenth Amendment: Rights Reserved to the States and the People
Eleventh Amendment: Suits Against States
Twelfth Amendment: Election of President
Thirteenth Amendment: Abolition of Slavery
Fourteenth Amendment: Equal Protection and Other Rights
Fifteenth Amendment: Right of Citizens to Vote
Sixteenth Amendment: Income Tax
Seventeenth Amendment: Popular Election of Senators
Eighteenth Amendment: Prohibition of Liquor
Nineteenth Amendment: Women's Suffrage
Twentieth Amendment: Presidential Term and Succession
Twenty-First Amendment: Repeal of Prohibition
Twenty-Second Amendment: Presidential Term Limits
Twenty-Third Amendment: District of Columbia Electors
Twenty-Fourth Amendment: Abolition of Poll Tax
Twenty-Fifth Amendment: Presidential Vacancy
Twenty-Sixth Amendment: Reduction of Voting Age
Twenty-Seventh Amendment: Congressional Compensation
Appendix to the Constitution Annotated
Appendix and Resources: Supplemental Annotations