founding documents
Nation's birth certificates
The founding documents are the texts that established a nation's government and principles.
In American usage, the term refers specifically to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and sometimes the Bill of Rights or Federalist Papers.
The professor assigned readings from the founding documents.
Other nations have their own founding documents—constitutions, charters, or declarations that mark their political origins.
- penInk-filled writing tool
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
- charterFounding organizational document
- paperPressed pulp for writing
bill of rights · natural rights · amendment · constitutional convention · mission statement · canon law · social contract · sacred text · manifesto · covenant · articles of incorporation · separation of powers · checks and balances · due process · draft · ratification · legal entity · creed
- cultural heritagefolklore, traditions, customs, folk music revival, museum collections
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
- historical documentsDeclaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Magna Carta, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers
- constitutional lawConstitution, Bill of Rights, First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourth Amendment
- College Historycollege presidents, historical records, landmark buildings, school traditions, archives
- Colonial Americanacolonial laws, almanacs, Benjamin Franklin, William Bradford, Thomas Paine
founding documentsstatutory law
Legislature-made legal rules
bylaws · regulatory codes · executive orders · local ordinances
founding documentsamendments
Formal changes to documents
constitutional amendments · revised editions · modern interpretations · regulatory codes
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