The Internet provides access to
a variety of information, but not all of it is accurate, reliable, current or unbiased. The websites listed below are maintained by reputable organizations and contain trustworthy information.
American Constitution Society for Law & Policy -- This organization "believes that law should be a force to improve the lives of all people." One of its missions is "nurturing the next generation of progressive lawyers, judges, policy experts, legislators and academics." Among its many publications is the scholarly journal Advance, which may be viewed online for free.
Freedom Forum -- This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocates for the study and exploration of the rights outlined in the First Amendment, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government. Their survey of Americans' opinions about their First Amendment rights shows that even though we disagree on many other issues, we value our First Amendment rights.
Library of Congress -- The "Constitution Annotated" collection contains articles written by the staff of the Congressional Research Service that provide expert analysis and interpretation of the U.S.Constitution, and court decisions that have helped to define how constitutional concepts are applied to our everyday lives.
National Archives -- If you'd like to see what the original handwritten copy of the U.S. Constitution looks like, you may view it online here or visit the National Archives in Washington, D.C. This site also provides access to a variety of other documents of historic significance, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
National Constitution Center -- Located in Philadelphia, this organization describes itself as "the first and only institution in America established by Congress to 'disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.' The Constitution Center brings the United States Constitution to life by hosting interactive exhibits and constitutional conversations, and inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American constitutional tradition." Visit their site to read an interactive version of the U.S. Constitution.
Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) -- Is a law constitutional? It is the U.S. Supreme Court's job to decide that, every time they hear a case. At this site, you may read the text of recent Supreme Court opinions, and listen to audio recordings of lawyers arguing before the Court. For a preview of upcoming cases, browse the Court's official blog.
SCOTUS =
S -- Supreme
C -- Court
O -- of
T -- the
U -- United
S -- States
If you're interested in aspects of politics that are not covered here, please visit these other NCC Library research guides:
For more information about the legal field, go to the Paralegal Studies research guide.