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The United States Constitution
*** This Guide is No Longer Being Actively Maintained ***
by Roz Napier, Librarian
After the Revolutionary War, the American colonies needed to form a national government. Representatives from the different colonies met in Philadelphia in 1787 to write a set of rules for the new country. The result was the United States Constitution. It established three branches of government: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. It also defined the rights of states and of individuals.
This pathfinder will help you find information in the Onondaga County Public Library and on the Internet about the Constitution.
Please Choose from the Following:
Encyclopedia
Books
Magazines
Websites
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia article will provide an overview of the topic. Here is a link to an online encyclopedia article on the U.S. Constitution. You may also use an encyclopedia in your library.
Murphy, Bruce Allen.
"Constitution of the United States."
World Book Online Reference Center. 2005. World Book, Inc. 1 Sept. 2005.
Books
Keywords and Phrases
Use these keywords and phrases to search for more information in the library’s online catalog, online databases, and on the Internet:
Constitution
Constitutional Convention
Constitutional History
Preamble to the Constitution
Bill of Rights
The number of a specific amendment, for example, “19th Amendment”
Dewey Decimal Numbers
Browse the library shelves under these Dewey Decimal numbers for books on the U.S. Constitution.
J 342.73
This is the main location of books on the Constitution and the amendments.
J 323.4
Some additional books on the freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights may be found in this location
Books
Some books for students about the U.S. Constitution are listed here. To find more books on this topic, search the online catalog using the suggested Keywords and Phrases or browse the shelves in the library under the suggested Dewey
Decimal Numbers.
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States
by David Catrow
Dial, 2002. Grades 1-4
Humorous illustrations depict the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution.
We the People: the Constitution of the United States of America
by Peter Spier
Doubleday, 1987. Grades 2-5
This is an artistic tribute to the diversity of America and the ideals of the Constitution. An introduction tells the story of the Constitution, and the full text of the document appears at the end of the book.
The Constitution
by Suzanne LeVert
Benchmark, 2003. Grades 2-5
Part of a series, this title presents simple information about the writing of the Constitution, the three branches of the federal government, the Bill of Rights, and the way the Constitution can be amended.
We the People: The Story of Our Constitution
by Lynne Cheney
paintings by Greg Harlin
Simon & Schuster, 2008. Grades 3-5.
This picture book describes the creativity, persistence, and compromises that were required during the drafting of the Constitution of the United States.
Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution
by Jean Fritz; illustrated by Tomie dePaola
Putnam, 1987. Grades 3-6
Words and pictures bring the Constitutional Convention to life as the reader learns about the different personalities that helped write the document.
A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution
by Betsy Maestro; illustrated by Guilio Maestro
Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1987. Grades 3-6
The writing and ratification of the Constitution are described.
The Founders: The 39 Stories Behind the U.S. Constitution
by Dennis Brindell Fradin
illustrations by Michael McCurdy.
Walker, 2005. Grades 5-9.
Profiles of the 39 men who worked diligently to draft the U. S. Constitution are accompanied by scratchboard illustrations that evoke the times.
Creating the Constitution, 1787
by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier
Benchmark, 1999. Grades 5-12
This entry in “The Drama of American History” series describes in detail the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
“A Convention of Delegates” : The Creation of the Constitution
by Denis J. Hauptly
Atheneum, 1987. Grades 6-12
The various personalities present at the Constitutional Convention struggle to agree on the terms of the document.
A Kids’ Guide to America’s Bill of Rights: Curfews, Censorship, and the 100-Pound Giant
by Kathleen Krull; illustrated by Anna DeVito
Avon, 1999. Grades 5-12
Lighthearted illustrations accompany this examination of the meaning of the first ten amendments to the Constitution and how they apply to young people in particular.
In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America’s Bill of Rights
by Russell Freedman
Holiday House, 2003. Grades 6-12
Freedman describes the origins of the Bill of Rights and discusses challenges to them.
The Bill of Rights: How We Got It and What It Means
by Milton Meltzer
Thomas Crowell, 1990. Grades 6-12
The first section of the book explores the history of the Bill of Rights; the second section explains the meaning of each one; and the third section relates some of the cases that have challenged them.
Magazines
Click on the links below for some useful magazine articles.
Use the suggested Keywords and Phrases to
search for more resources on the library’s online
databases for students.
“A Republic, If You Can Keep It”
by Malcolm C. Jensen.
Cobblestone, Jan. 2003; v24.
This article discusses how the Framers of the Constitution struggled with the issue of power and how to balance it.
"A Product of Argument and Compromise"
by Barbara Brooks Simons.
Cobblestone, Jan. 2003; v24.
This article explores the three branches of government set up by the U.S. Constitution.
Websites
The following web sites pertain to the United States Constitution.
Use the suggested Keywords and Phrases to search the
Internet for further information.
Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
Basic information about the branches of the federal government, the documents of American history, and citizenship is presented in grade-level ranges.
The Constitution of the United States
This web site of the National Archives includes a transcript of the Constitution and information about the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. It also covers the Bill of Rights and the additional amendments to the Constitution.
Interactive Constitution
Select a specific section or phrase of the Constitution and receive an explanation of its meaning.
Centuries of Citizenship: A Constitutional Timeline
This interactive timeline highlights some of the key dates and events that mark more than 200 years of constitutional history.
Last updated: June 26, 2010