Supporters of slavery wanted to organize a constitutional convention that could put Kansas into the Union as a slave state.

VOA: special.2009.05.21

The new governor promised to enforce the laws of the pro-slavery legislature -- but only those laws which were constitutional.

VOA: special.2009.05.21

Douglas Laycock is a professor of constitutional law at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville.

VOA: special.2011.03.17

The railroads said the laws were not constitutional, because they interfered with the right of Congress to control trade between the states.

VOA: special.2010.04.15

It did say,however, that any state wishing to return to the Union could do so without losing any of its constitutional rights.

VOA: special.2009.12.10

In eighteen forty-eight, while James Polk was president, there was a great constitutional debate in the United States.

VOA: special.2009.03.05

For those opposed to slavery, the platform rejected the idea that slave owners had a constitutional right to take slaves into new territories.

VOA: special.2009.07.09

She is remembered still for her commanding presentation at the hearing and deep knowledge of constitutional issues.

VOA: special.2010.05.09

Scott's owner raised the questions: Did Congress have the Constitutional power to close a territory to slavery?

VOA: special.2009.05.14

Southern states declared that they had a constitutional right to bring slaves into the new lands.

VOA: special.2009.03.26

Also,there is constitutional protection against double jeopardy being put on trial twice for the same crime.

VOA: special.2009.08.31

In the South,many people felt that the constitutional equality of fifteen southern states was being questioned.

VOA: special.2009.03.12

Justice Taney said Congress did not have the constitutional power to pass such a law.

VOA: special.2009.05.14

Southern states believed they had a constitutional right to take property including slaves -- anywhere.

VOA: special.2009.07.23