The paper takes the position that the study and understanding of the United States Constitution should be a critical part of citizenship education, especially as its Bicentennial approaches. Several factors suggest that the Constitution has become the most durable document of its kind in history, and that its teaching should be centered in both the school and the community. It is proposed that the teaching of citizenship education could be addressed through three topics: (1) principles, including federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, the concept of limited government, and the distinction between a democracy and a republic; (2) issues, including judicial review, the power struggle between states and the national government, civil liberties, changing the document, and other controversial subjects; and (3) values, such as representative government, respect for rights, divided responsibilities, and tradition. (TRS)