This blog was excerpted from the Congress Week website introduction written by Dr. Jay Wyatt, president of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress (ACSC) and Director of Programs and Research, Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History & Education, Shepherd University. Congress Week is the creation of the Association of Centers for…
Today marks the end of our week-long look at the Bill of Rights. Last Friday, we wrote about Congress Week’s purpose and the Constitution’s continued influence on modern society. In that same spirit, today’s post discusses the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress’s (ACSC) mission to explore and archive America’s legislative branch. The…
The Ninth Amendment to the Constitution reads: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. This amendment ensures that the Constitution — and by extension, the federal government — is not the final arbiter of a citizen’s rights. The framers of the…
You might be surprised to learn that there are several “official” versions of the Second Amendment. One of these versions, passed by Congress, reads: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Another version, ratified by…
The First Amendment to the Bill of Rights states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances Plainly,…
If you haven’t heard from us in a while, there’s a good reason for that: we’ve been preparing for the most celebrated week of the year. That’s right, it’s Congress Week! Congress Week takes place during the first week of April and commemorates the 1789 month in which Congress achieved its first quorums. This year,…