United States Constitution: About the U.S. Constitution
About this guide
Guide content supports the teaching and research goals of multiple departments on campus. Content represents a non-exhaustive selection of essential resources and tools for engaging a wide range of backgrounds and viewpoints.
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Freedom of Speech
About the Constitution
Although the Constitution of the United States is a fairly brief document, it is broad in scope. It defines the structure of the U.S. legal system by allocating power and responsibility among the three branches of government and describes its fundamental principles, including separation of power, checks and balances, and shared authority of federal and state governments. Constitutional research often focuses on historical background, interpretation by the courts, scholarly analysis, and legislative action rather than actual constitutional language.
