The Informed Constitutional Republic Initiative
Plain-English explainers of the Constitution, rights, and government structure
Understand how America's government was designed to work, what your rights actually mean, and how power is supposed to be divided—so you can focus your energy on the real systems and decision-makers shaping your life.
Our Mission
To explain the Constitution, rights, and government structure in plain English — so Americans can focus their energy on the real decision-makers and systems shaping their lives, instead of fighting one another.
Explore Topics
The Constitution
Read the Preamble, Articles, and all 27 Amendments in plain English.
Articles
Explore each constitutional article with plain-English breakdowns.
Your Rights
Individual liberties and constitutional protections explained simply.
Acts of Congress
Major federal legislation that shaped rights, powers, and policy.
Executive Orders
Browse and search presidential orders from the live TheSource database.
U.S. Code
Search and read federal statutory law directly inside TICRI.
Constitutional Framework
Literal interpretation of rights, powers, and checks & balances.
Supreme Court Cases
Landmark decisions that shaped American law and society.
Federalism
How power was supposed to be divided vs. how it works today.
State Powers
What states can and can't do under the Constitution.
State Constitutions
Explore the fundamental governing documents of all 50 states.
Federal Funding
How federal money works and its impact on state autonomy.
Fiscal Policy
How federal taxing, borrowing, and spending power expanded over time.
Taxes
Live federal receipts, inflation, and disposable income data from FRED.
Voting
The functional effect of a citizen's vote in our system.
Parties & Policy
Where America's two major political parties came from and how they changed.
Government Spending
124 years of federal budget data: receipts, outlays, and debt (1900-2024).
Project 535
How Congress works: the House, Senate, 17th Amendment, filibuster, and sub-committees.
Truth & Law
Legal standards and truth-finding in the American justice system.
What We Break Down
The Constitution & Amendments
America's founding document and its evolution through 27 amendments.
Citizens' Rights
Individual liberties and constitutional protections explained simply.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Decisions that shaped American law and society.
The U.S. Code
Federal statutes searchable and readable without leaving TICRI.
Federalism
How Federalism was supposed to work vs. how it works today.
State Powers & Federal Overreach
What states can do and where federal power has expanded.
The Role of Federal Funding
How federal money works and its impact on state autonomy.
Start Learning
Understanding your government starts with understanding the Constitution.
Read the ConstitutionUseful Links
A nonprofit, neutral, government-sourced data reference.
For more information about civic engagement efforts, see www.535project.org