Constitution Daily Blog
Reconstruction
Justice Thomas lobs a legal grenade at a major civil rights law
Throughout his long tenure on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Clarence Thomas often has used his dissenting and concurring…
What are the president’s powers under the Insurrection and Militia Acts?
By April 20, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem are expected to make recommendations…
On this day, Congress approved the 14th Amendment
On June 13, 1866, the House approved a Senate-proposed version of the 14th Amendment, sending it to the states for approval. Two…
The cotton gin: A game-changing social and economic invention
On this day in 1793, young inventor Eli Whitney had his U.S. patent for the cotton gin approved, an invention that would…
Hiram Revels: The first African American congressman
On this day in 1870, a Black politician was seated in the United States Senate for the first time, but only after Republican…
Supreme Court raises broad questions about Colorado ruling on Trump
In closely watched arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court last Thursday, many of the justices questioned the broad impact of a…
The last insurrection case considered by Congress
An obscure incident involving the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause is getting some new attention in the lead-up to…
Rutherford B. Hayes: Controversial and little remembered
Today marks the birthday of the one of the most controversial U.S. presidents, Rutherford B. Hayes, who took office amid a…
On this day, the 19th Amendment joins the Constitution
On this day in 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, ensuring that the amendment guaranteeing a…
Blame Abraham Lincoln for the nation’s first national Income Tax
Most people aren’t big fans of a national income tax, but it was on this day back in 1861 that the first one was levied by the…
