the Constitution

The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution is a specialized panel within the Senate Judiciary Committee that handles a narrow but constitutionally significant slice of the parent committee's broad jurisdiction. While the full Judiciary Committee oversees the entire federal justice system, this subcommittee focuses specifically on constitutional matters and civil liberties. Its jurisdiction covers constitutional amendments, enforcement and protection of constitutional rights, statutory guarantees of civil rights and civil liberties, separation of powers, federal-state relations, and oversight of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

This subcommittee holds particular importance because it originates and crafts constitutional amendments—a power that has shaped American history. In the 1960s, the subcommittee under Senator Birch Bayh's leadership drove the process resulting in the 25th Amendment and the 26th Amendment. The subcommittee also played a key role in the 1970s under Senator Sam Ervin, whose investigations led to the passage of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The subcommittee is chaired by Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) serving as Ranking Member. The panel has 13 total members. In 2026, the subcommittee is expected to hold hearings examining constitutional and legal implications of significant matters referred by the full committee's leadership.