Our Constitutions & Founding Documents

Every member of the state ought diligently to read and study the constitution of his country

and teach the rising generation to be free.

By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated

and be better prepared to defend and assert them.

At The Gadsden Center, we think our state and federal constitutions are enduring documents. They should mean what they say, and only be amended in accordance with their own terms.

The federal and state constitutions are sacred contracts made by the people who wrote and ratified them. They are to be respected and upheld, not disparaged or ignored.  And, our elected representatives must adhere to the limitations on their powers as well as uphold and protect our liberties that are set forth and reserved in our constitutions.

To do this, all of us must know our constitutions. To this end, The Gadsden Center provides copies of our constitutions, as amended, to the public.  Read them online by clicking on the links below.  In the future, we will also have printed copies available.

The Constitution of the United States

The Michigan Constitution of 1963

We also offer the following documents:

The Magna Carta (1215)

The Declaration of Independence (1776)

The Articles of Confederation (1776)