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Quasi-Legal Institute

Reference

Sources and further reading

Read the original documents, look up a cited case, or find additional teaching materials.

Constitutional text and court opinions

Use these to read the underlying documents and check a claim.

  • Constitution Annotated

    Library of Congress

    The constitutional text and clause-by-clause analysis, with references to the decisions interpreting it. Each QLI lesson links to its amendment here.

  • Founding Documents

    National Archives

    Transcripts and images of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence.

  • Supreme Court Opinions

    Supreme Court of the United States

    Opinions published by the Court. Use the case name, decision year, and citation from a reading to identify the decision.

  • Legal Information Institute

    Cornell Law School

    Searchable court opinions, federal statutes, and regulations, alongside legal reference material.

  • CourtListener

    Free Law Project

    A searchable collection of court opinions. Case lookup links in QLI readings search this collection by citation; the results may include related documents.

Case summaries and constitutional interpretation

These explain the documents and provide context. Summaries are distinct from the opinions themselves.

  • Oyez

    Cornell LII, Chicago-Kent, and Justia

    Supreme Court case summaries, decision information, and recordings of oral arguments.

  • Interactive Constitution

    National Constitution Center

    Interpretations of constitutional provisions, including areas where contributing scholars agree and disagree.

Teaching materials and Wisconsin research

Resources for using the material in class or continuing your own research.

  • iCivics

    iCivics

    Civic education games, classroom activities, and lesson plans.

  • Wisconsin State Law Library

    State of Wisconsin

    Wisconsin statutes, legal research guides, and information about finding court forms.

Finding legal help

The Institute provides educational materials, not legal advice or representation. For help with a particular case, contact a licensed attorney or a local legal aid organization.