The Fourteenth Amendment: Annotated
Adopted in 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution addresses citizenship rights, due process, and equal protection under the law.
A Colorblind Compromise?
“Colorblindness,” an ideology that denies that race is an organizing principle of the nation’s structural order, reaches back to the drafting of the US Constitution.
The Voting Rights Act 1965: Annotated
The passing of the Voting Rights Act in August 1965 prohibited the use of Jim Crow laws and discriminatory tests to disenfranchise Black voters.
The Pro-Democratic Fourteenth Amendment
At the heart of recent US Supreme Court decisions, the Fourteenth Amendment was framed to require free speech and free elections in the South.
The Native American Roots of the US Constitution
The Iroquois, Shawnee, Cherokee, and other political formations generally separated military and civil leadership and guarded certain personal freedoms.
Birthright Citizenship Basics
Birthright citizenship, which holds that individuals are citizens of the nation in which they are born, was codified with the 14th Amendment in 1868.
What Drives American Disenchantment with the NSA
The National Security Agency's surveillance of citizens flew under the radar for decades. Why is there now so much mistrust of the NSA?
Are Classroom Holiday Parties Constitutional?
Can schools let students and teachers celebrate religions holidays without violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause?
The Constitution Most Americans Have Forgotten About
The Articles of Confederation set off the long-running feud between states' rights and Washington, a debate that still rages today.
What’s With All The Petitions?
The last clause of the First Amendment guarantees the right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Where did this idea come from?