Why read the constitution?

Five Reasons Every College Student Should Know the U.S. Constitution

By Michael Ross
Professor of History

1. This Is a Constitutional Moment
We’re living through seismic shifts—political, cultural, technological—you name it. Sound familiar? It should. The Civil War, the Great Depression, the 1960s… every turning point in American history had one thing in common: people who knew the Constitution helped steer what came next. Now it's your turn to show up and know your stuff.

2. Cut Through the Constitutional Nonsense
Every politician swears they’ve got the Constitution in their corner. Spoiler: sometimes they are bluffing. If you actually know what’s in the document, you can separate the experts from the posers.

3. Win Arguments with Actual Facts
We’ve all seen that person in the group chat misquote Constitutional amendments. Don’t be that person. When debates spark over rights, laws, or liberties, you’ll be the one who’s armed with actual constitutional knowledge.

4. Hamilton Was Right: History Has Its Eyes on You
The Constitution has shaped American history, but history has also shaped the Constitution. It’s not just a dusty relic; it’s alive in every protest, every lawsuit, every push for change. If you know how it works, you’ll realize you’re not just witnessing history, you’re helping write the next chapter.

5. Be the Voter the Founders Were Counting On
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest still-running government charter on the planet—and it didn’t survive nearly 240 years by accident. It made it this far thanks to voters who paid attention, asked questions, and held leaders accountable. The founders drafted the blueprint. Now it's our job to make sure it still stands.

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Meet the First Year Book Committee for Academic Year 2025-2026

The First Year Book is chosen by a committee of University of Maryland faculty, staff, and students representing 10+ disciplines.

• Sai Harshini Badugu – Undergraduate Student
• Kelly Biglin – Student
• James Butler – Associate Professor, Behavioral and Community Health Department of Behavioral and Community Health
• Lawrence Clark – Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
• Leeanne Dunsmore – Director of Strategic Initiatives, Undergraduate Studies
• Virginia Haufler – Associate Professor, Government & Politics
• Katherine Joshi – Senior Lecturer, English
• Lisa Kiely – Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies and Ombudsperson
• Marilee Lindemann – Associate Professor and Executive Director, College Park Scholars
• Elisabeth Fost Maring – Clinical Professor, Department of Family Science
• Chinaza Ofor – Undergraduate Student
• Julie Park – Associate Professor, Sociology
• Korey Rothman – Program Director, College Park Scholars Civic Engagement for Social Good
• Stephanie Anne Zager – Graduate Assistant, Undergraduate Studies