UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH
I. The Constitution in Print and Online
Government Printing Office (GPO)
The GPO online maintains several editions of the United States Constitution. All of these editions are available in both text and Adobe PDF format.
Annotated United States Constitution
Location: Compact Shelving, KF 4527 .K55 1987;
http://www.gpoaccess.gov --> Legislative Resources --> Congressional Resources --> U.S. Constitution
United States Constitution with Declaration of Independence
United States Constitution Including Unratified Amendments
Cornell: Legal Information Institute
Cornell Law School maintains both an un-annotated and annotated version of the United States Constitution online. It is not in PDF format, but is extensively hyperlinked to provide easy access for researchers.
The United States Constitution at Findlaw
Findlaw offers a similar annotated version of the Constitution.
II. The Constitution and Annotated Codes
Annotated codes by West and Lexis offer greater timeliness and depth than the annotations available above. Additionally, these annotated codes reference other components of legal research such as legal encyclopedias, treatises and journals.
United States Code Annotated (USCA)
Location: Atrium, KF 62.5 W45; Westlaw Database: USCA
The first 28 volumes of West’s USCA series cover the United States Constitution. Extensive annotations to cases are provided for a researcher. The annotated code also contains cross references to ALRs, journal articles, Corpus Juris Secundum, American Jurisprudence, AmJur Trials, AmJur Proof of Facts, forms and treatises. Volumes are updated by both pocket parts and supplementary soft cover pamphlets.
United States Code Service (USCS)
Location: Atrium, KF62 1972 .L38, Lexis-Nexis Database: USCS
Lexis-Nexis also publishes a case annotated edition to the United States Constitution. The USCS contains cross references to American Jurisprudence, ALR, journal articles, forms and treatises.
III. Treatises and Hornbooks
Hornbooks are scholarly works written by well regarded authors in the field. Issues are discussed in a high level of detail with extensive footnotes to statutes, cases, and secondary sources. Due to this level of scholarship, treatises are occasionally cited by courts. On the downside, a treatise may provide too much information to be digested quickly.
Location: Compact Shelving, KF 4550 .T785 2000
Location: Compact Shelving, KF 4748 .C37 1991
Location: Reserve, KF 4550 .Z9 W53 2003
Location: Reserve, KF 4550 .Z9 N69 2005
Location: Compact Shelving, KF 4550 .R63 2007
IV. Study Guides
Lexis’ Understanding series is less detailed than a treatise yet more detailed than a nutshell. Each volume contains a moderate amount of footnotes to additional sources that do not overwhelm the reader.
Location: Reserve, KF 4550 .Z9 .R43 2005
Location: Reserve, KF 4770 .W43 2003
V. Nutshells
Nutshells are compact summaries of the law. Only the most influential cases are cited and there is less analysis than in a treatise. Despite these limitations nutshells can give attorneys or students a quick understanding of an area of law and provide an excellent starting point.
Location: Compact Shelving, KF 4527 .K55 1987
Location: Reserve, KF 4750 .V5 1998
Location: Reserve, KF 4550 .Z9 B35 2005
Location: Reserve, KF 4770 .Z9 B37 2004
VI. Journals and Other Resources
All of the journals listed below are available in full text PDF format on HeinOnline. Journals are indexed via Legaltrac or the Index to Legal Periodicals.
Journals
Location: Charlottelaw.org --> Law Library --> Library Databases --> HeinOnline
Constitutional Commentary (1984 - 2005)
Constitutional Review (1917 – 1929)
First Amendment Law Review (2003-2006)
Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly (1974-2006)
William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal (1992-2006)
Internet Resources
Library of Congress Research Guide on Constitutional Law
The Avalon Project at Yale Law School: The American Constitution
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