Constitutional Research Publications and Helpful Hints

Finding the Text  Unannotated versions  United States Code  Annotated versions  United States Code Annotated  United States Code Service

Researching Constitutions  Generally, the text of the Constitution is not as critical as the opinions of cases that interpret the Constitution  The number of cases citing a particular provision may be endless which hinders research.

Helpful Hints--Generally  Use secondary resources such as law review articles, treatises, or hornbooks to find THE relevant cases on that issue

Helpful Hints--Print  Use Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, KF4527.J , Core and Reserve collections

This one volume publication is both a primary and a secondary resource

Text

Commentary

Citations to Cases and Other Resources

Helpful Hints--Westlaw  Restrict search to headnote field  Example 1: Search ALLFEDS database  “fourth +2 amendment /p wiretap!” hits  “HE(fourth +2 amendment /p wiretap!)” hits  Example 2:  “fourth +2 amendment /p wiretap! /p office” --45 hits  “HE(fourth +2 amendment /p wiretap! /p office) --2 hits

Helpful Hints--Westlaw  Combine topic and key number search with facts  Example: Search ALLFEDS database  Criminal Law (110k394.3) covers Evidence Wrongfully Obtained from Wiretapping or Other interception  “110k394.3” hits  “110k394.3 /p office” --26 hits

Helpful Hints--Lexis  Use segment restrictions  Example 1: Search Federal Cases, Combined Courts  Fourth +2 amendment /25 wiretap! hits  OVERVIEW(Fourth +2 amendment /25 wiretap!) hits  SYLLABUS(Fourth +2 amendment /25 wiretap!) -- 4 hits

Final Helpful Hints  Read the fact pattern and question carefully and frequently  Evaluate your research throughout the project to make sure you stay on point