Learn about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives. How it works: The National Constitution Center selected two scholars for each clause with guidance from the American Constitution Society and the Federalist Society—America’s leading legal organizations representing different constitutional perspectives. The Common Interpretation, signed by both scholars, is a joint statement of their agreement on the provision’s history and meaning. Matters of Debate represent each scholar’s individual views.
Which documents and ideas influenced the Founders when drafting the Bill of Rights? How did the amendments change throughout the drafting process? What text made it into the final ratified text? Explore critical historical documents that inspired the Framers of the Constitution and each amendment during the drafting process, the early drafts and major proposals behind each provision, and discover how the drafters deliberated, agreed, and disagreed on the path to compromise and the final text.
