National Constitution Center senior fellow Christopher Phillips looks at the theoretical debate that the Declaration of Independence should be considered, when relevant, on par with the ...

Also obvious and irrelevant is Pulliam’s observation that Jefferson, the Declaration’s primary author, was not at the Constitutional Convention (he was a U.S. diplomat in Paris).

Most importantly, the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are based on the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that governments are created to protect.

The late Judith Shklar (1928-1992), a Harvard political philosopher, correctly noted the "momentous novelty" of the Constitution's first three words, "We the people." They announced a "declaration ...

The U.S. Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1789 Eleven years later, in 1787, a new nation, free and independent of Great Britain, was born – the United States of America.

The declaration becomes effective as soon as it is officially published. In late January, Sharaa promised a "constitutional declaration" to serve as a "legal reference" during the transitional period.

The declaration, signed by interim president Ahmed al-Shara, guarantees individual freedoms but gives Mr. al-Shara abundant power and keeps Islamic law as its legal foundation.

Historical reenactors read the Declaration of Independence outside the National Archives on July 4, 2014. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post) On this 243rd anniversary of the beginning of ...

So, tonight, by the light of some sparklers, read the Declaration, which illuminates what came next, the Constitution, and a nation worth celebrating. George F. Will | The Washington Post George F.