98-674 LSD
August 12, 1998
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Constitution of the United States; Recent
Writings:
Bibliography-in-Brief
Tangela G. Roe
Information Resource Specialist, Government and Law
Library Services Division
Summary
This bibliography contains recent publications discussing the history, development, and
application of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These references have been
selected from the Public Policy Literature Data Base, the CRS Products File, and the
Library of Congress Computerized Catalog. References to Internet URLs (Uniform
Resource Locator) have also been provided. Congressional users may order the full text
of items by calling 7-5700, while books can be obtained by calling 7-5445. Other users
should consult their local library; Congressional Research Service writings are available
only to congressional offices.
Selected CRS Products
A Balanced budget constitutional amendment: background and congressional options,
by James V. Saturno. Updated Mar. 20, 1997. 52 p.
97-379 GOV
A Balanced budget constitutional amendment: economic issues, by William A. Cox,
Dennis Zimmerman, and Donald W. Kiefer. Updated Feb. 27, 1997. 29 p.
94-76 E
Constitution of the United States including the Bill of Rights: info pack. Updated as
needed.
IP339C
Flag protection: a brief history and summary of recent Supreme Court decisions and
proposed constitutional amendment, by John Luckey. Updated July 14, 1998. 8
p.
95-709 A
Ratification of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, by David C. Huckabee. Updated
Sept. 30, 1997. 5 p.
97-922 GOV
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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The Religious Freedom Amendment: H. J. Res. 78, as reported by the House Judiciary
Committee, by David M. Ackerman and James Sayler. May 28, 1998. 21 p.
98-504 A
Supreme Court opinions: October 1997 term, by George A. Costello. July 14, 1998.
48 p.
97-639 A
A Tax limitation constitutional amendment: issues and options concerning a super-
majority requirement, by James V. Saturno. Updated May 1, 1998. 6 p.
98-368 GOV
Term limits for Members of Congress: state activity, by Sula P. Richardson. Updated
July 10, 1998. 6 p.
96-152 GOV
Victims’ Rights Amendment: background & issues associated with proposals to amend
the United States Constitution, by Charles Doyle. July 25, 1997. 106 p.
97-735 A
Additional Resources
Bernstein, Richard B.
Amending America or fiddling with the Constitution? Prologue, v. 26,
spring 1994: 64-72.
LRS94-2851
"The history of the amending process is one of the most fascinating, yet least
studied, spheres of American constitutional history."
The Bill of Rights and beyond, 1791-1991. Washington, Commission on the
Bicentennial of the Constitution, 1991. 106 p.
LRS91-11563
Describes the provisions of the first ten amendments to the Constitution and the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, and
Twenty-sixth Amendments.
Block, Lawrence J. Rivkin, David B., Jr.
Auxiliary precaution. Policy review, no. 51, winter 1990: 68-73.
LRS90-9779
Argues that in focusing on the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment,
many Americans "overlook the all-important safeguards contained in the structure of
the Constitution itself."
Clinton, Robert N.
A brief history of the adoption of the United States Constitution. Iowa law
review, v. 75, May 1990: 891-913.
LRS90-15227
The Complete Bill of Rights: the drafts, debates, sources, and origins. Edited by
Neil H. Cogan. New York, Oxford University Press, 1997. 708 p.
KF4744 1997
The Constitution of the United States.
URL: http://www.nara.gov/exhall/charters/constitution/conmain.html (as of
June 23, 1998).
LRS98-4603
Maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Contents.--The Founding Fathers page features the biographies of the 55
delegates to the Constitutional Convention.--You can read a transcription of the
complete text of the Constitution. This page also provides hyperlinks to biographies
of each of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution.--The article ‘A More Perfect
Union’ is an in-depth look at the Constitutional Convention and the ratification
process.--‘Questions and answers pertaining to the Constitution’ presents dozens of

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CRS-3
fascinating facts about the Constitution.--Links to the Bill of Rights and Amendments
11-27.
Currie, David P.
The Constitution in Congress: the First Congress and the structure of
government, 1789-1791. University of Chicago Law School roundtable, v. 2,
no. 1, 1995: 161-218.
LRS95-3448
Article summarizes the debate and enactments in the First Federal Congress
concerning the organization and powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches. See LRS96-1081 for The Constitution in Congress, the Second Congress,
1791-1793 and LRS96-2837 for The Constitution in Congress: the Third Constitution,
1793-1795.
Devins, Neal.
The last word debate: how social and political forces shape constitutional
values. American Bar Association journal, v. 83, Oct. 1997: 46-48, 50.
LRS97-8170
Epstein, Lee. Walker, Thomas G.
Constitutional law for a changing America: institutional powers and
constraints. 3rd ed. Washington, CQ Press, 1998. 651 p. (LC call no:
KF4548.E67 1998)
LRS98-2076
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Constitutional law for a changing America: rights, liberties, and justice. 3rd ed.
Washington, CQ Press, 1998. 869 p. (LC call no: KF4748.E67 1997)LRS98-15
The Federalist. Edited, with an introduction and notes, by George W. Carey and
James McClellan. Student ed. Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1990.
531 p.
JK154 1990
The Federalist: a collection of essays written in favor of the new Constitution as
agreed upon by the Federal Convention, September 17, 1787 by Alexander Hamilton,
John Jay, and James Madison.
Fisher, Louis. Devins, Neal.
Political dynamics of constitutional law. 2nd ed. St. Paul, West Pub. Co., 1996.
316 p.
KF4549.F574 1996
Fitzgerald, Laura S.
Cadenced power: the kinetic Constitution. Duke law journal, v. 46, Feb. 1997:
679-779.
LRS97-11301
“This Article takes seriously the Constitution’s structures for the practice of
politics -- its nested constituencies and its deliberative policymaking sequences -- in
order to rethink the Constitution’s idea of power and, in particular, its separation of
powers.”
Fletcher, George P.
Unsound Constitution: Oklahoma City and the founding fathers. New republic,
v. 216, June 23, 1997: 14, 16-18.
LRS97-5061
“We have propagated myths about the binding force of the 1789 Constitution
that some people, unfortunately, take too zealously. We have planted the ideas that
have grown crooked in the minds of some.”
Graglia, Lino A.
Does constitutional law exist? National review, v. 47, June 26, 1995: 31-34.

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LRS95-8759
“It is widely remarked that modern constitutional law is dragging public policy
to the left. Less often noticed is that it has nothing to do with the Constitution.”
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God and man in court. National review, v. 47, Aug. 14, 1995: 27-32.
LRS95-8755
“Judicial conservatives all agree that the Constitution must be interpreted in the
light of its Framers’ intentions. But what were those intentions as regards natural
law?”
Group conflict and the Constitution: race, sexuality, and religion. Yale law journal,
v. 106, June 1997: 2313-2561.
LRS97-6514
Interpretive methodologies: perspectives on constitutional theory. Hastings
constitutional law quarterly, v. 24, winter 1997: 281-664.
LRS97-6515
Lutz, Donald S.
The State constitutional pedigree of the U.S. Bill of Rights. Publius, v. 22,
spring 1992: 19-45.
LRS92-5071
"This famous addition to the federal Constitution was a summary of the common
core found in the seven existing state bills of rights."
O'Connor, Sandra Day.
Women and the constitution: a bicentennial perspective. Women & politics, v.
10, no. 2, 1990: 5-16.
LRS90-12235
Public administration and the Constitution. Public administration review, v. 53,
May-June 1993: 237-267.
LRS93-8591
Story, Joseph.
Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States. Buffalo, William S.
Hein & Co., 1994. 2 v.
KF4541.S7 1994
"With a preliminary history of the colonies and states before the adoption of the
Constitution." Originally published: Boston, Little, Brown and Co., 1891.
Strickland, Ruth Ann.
Population size, diversity and the proclivity of States to oppose or support the
ratification of amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Southeastern political
review, v. 20, fall 1992: 269-293.
LRS92-11227
"Examines whether less populous states are more likely to oppose civil liberties
amendments than larger states."
Sullivan, Kathleen M.
Constitutional amendmentitis. American prospect, no. 23, fall 1995: 20-27.
LRS95-8690
Argues that the “strong presumption against constitutional amendment has been
bedrock in our constitutional history, and there is no good reason for overturning it
now.”
U.S. Congress. House. Committee on the Budget.
Why the balanced budget amendment is good for Americans. Hearing,
105th Congress, 1st session. Feb. 5, 1997. Washington, G.P.O., 1997. 245 p.
KF27.B8 1997
U.S. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary.

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Congressional term limits amendment; report together with additional and
dissenting views to accompany H.J. Res. 2 including cost estimate of the
Congressional Budget Office. Feb. 6, 1997. Washington, G.P.O., 1997. 25 p.
LRS97-5381
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Proposals to provide rights to victims of crime. Hearing, 105th Congress,
1st session on H.J Res. 71 and H.R. 1322. June 25, 1997. Washington,
G.P.O., 1997. 125 p.
LRS97-9835
“Serial no. 28”
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Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United
States. Hearing, 105th Congress, 1st session on H.J. Res. 1. Feb. 3, 1997.
Washington, G.P.O., 1997. 141 p.
KF27.J8 1997
“Serial no. 1”
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Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States with respect
to tax limitations; report together with dissenting views to accompany H.J. Res.
62, including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office. Washington,
G.P.O., 1997. 22 p. (Report, House, 105th Congress, 1st session, Report 105-
50)
LRS97-2623
U.S. Congress. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on the
Constitution.
Limiting terms of office for Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and
U.S. Senate. Hearing, 105th Congress, 1st session. Jan. 22, 1997. Washington,
G.P.O., 1997. 67 p.
LRS97-9838
“Serial no. 30”
U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Judiciary.
Balanced Budget Amendment. Hearings, 105th Congress, 1st session on
S.J. Res. 1. Jan. 17-22, 1997. Washington, G.P.O., 1997. 263 p. (Hearings,
105th Congress, 1st session, S. Hrg. 105-115)
LRS97-9527
“Serial no. J-105-1”
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The balanced-budget constitutional amendment; report together with additional
and minority views to accompany S.J. Res. 1. Washington, G.P.O., 1997. 79
p. (Report, Senate, 105th Congress, 1st session, no. 105-3)
LRS97-163
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Congress’ constitutional role in protecting religious liberty. Hearing, 105th
Congress, 1st session. Oct. 1, 1997. Washington, G.P.O., 1998. 88 p.
(Hearing, Senate, 105th Congress, 1st session, S. Hrg. 105-405)
LRS98-3446
“Serial no. J-105-55”
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A proposed constitutional amendment to protect victims of crime. Hearing,
105th Congress, 1st session on S.J. Res. 6. Apr. 16, 1997. Washington, G.P.O.,
1997. 189 p. (Hearing, Senate, 105th Congress, 1st session, S. Hrg. 105-212)
KF26.J8 1997b

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U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary. Subcommittee on the
Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights.
Judicial activism: defining the problem and its impact. Hearings,
105th Congress, 1st session on S.J. Res. 26. June 11-July 29, 1997.
Washington, G.P.O., 1997. 205 p. (Hearing, Senate, 105th Congress,
1st session, S. Hrg. 105-261)
LRS97-13722
“Serial no. J-105-23”
U.S. Constitution.
Constitution of the United States of America: analysis and interpretation;
annotations of cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June
29, 1992. Prepared by the Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress. Washington, G.P.O., 1996. 2444 p. (Document, Senate,
103rd Congress, 1st session, no. 103-6)
KF4527.U54 1996
For an Internet copy of this publication and the 1996 supplement (cases decided
to July 1, 1996; Senate document no. 104-14), see URL:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/constitution/index.html.
Vile, John R.
Encyclopedia of constitutional amendments, proposed amendments, and
amending issues, 1789-1995. Santa Barbara, CA, ABC-CLIO, 1996. 427 p.
KF4557.V555 1996

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