The basic premise of the paper is that the Constitution should be the main theme of courses in United States history at grade 8. Students should study a unit on the Constitution, as is commonly done at that level. In addition, other units taught throughout the school year should emphasize constitutional principles, values, and issues. Three reasons support this premise. First, civic education is the central purpose of 8th grade United States history courses. Second, the Constitution in its history and meaning embodies core principles and values that lie at the heart of civic education and citizenship. Key concepts of American citizenship, such as liberty, equal treatment under law, consent of the governed, majority rule, and minority rights cannot be understood without knowledge of the Constitution in United States history and contemporary society. Third, adolescent students are at a period of cognitive development when they are able to comprehend and apply abstract ideas about constitutional government. Thus, the eighth grade is a prime time to emphasize constitutional history, because students are beginning to develop an ability for a formal understanding and learning of political concepts. The study of the Constitution, and of the decisive events and issues in constitutional history enables students to comprehend the struggle of American men and women to achieve high ideals of human dignity and civic responsibility. (TRS)