Constitution Daily Blog
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Constitution Check: Could Obama bypass the Senate on Garland nomination?
Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at a novel argument that President…
Henry Clay, the great compromiser
On April 12, 1777, the Kentucky politician Henry Clay was born. His remarkable career included a long stint as Speaker of the…
The filibuster that almost killed the Civil Rights Act
On this day in 1964, the Senate was involved in an epic fight over the Civil Right Act, after a group of Southern senators started…
The controversy over the direct election of Senators
The 17th amendment, which was ratified 103 years ago today, profoundly changed how Senators were chosen to serve in Congress. The…
Supreme Court denies big challenge to Colorado’s legal pot law
Over the objections of Justice Clarence Thomas, the eight-person Supreme Court has denied an effort by two neighboring states to…
Constitution Check: In the Supreme Court vacancy fight, which election counts most?
Lyle Denniston looks at the debate over the next Supreme Court nominee and how the upcoming November presidential and…
McCulloch v. Maryland: Expanding the power of Congress
On March 6, 1819, the Supreme Court ruled in McCulloch v. Maryland, holding that Congress has the power to establish a national…
Behind closed doors, Supreme Court ponders legalized marijuana challenge
In private conference today, an eight-Justice Supreme Court may decide the fate of a battle between three states over the…
Constitution Check: Could the military disobey orders issued by a President Trump?
Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center's constitutional literacy adviser, looks at comments from retired Air Force…
Should there be term limits for members of Congress and the Supreme Court?
The 22nd Amendment sets a two-term limit on the office of the President. Should members of the other two branches follow the same…
