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

By Michael Ross
UMD 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.