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A recent incident saw significant portions of the U.S. Constitution temporarily vanish from the official Congress website, sparking public concern. The Library of Congress, responsible for the digital resource, quickly attributed the disappearance to a “coding error” and confirmed the restoration of the missing text after users flagged the issue.
The anomaly affected the Constitution Annotated (constitution.congress.gov) website. Early this morning, the Library of Congress released a statement acknowledging the problem: “It has been brought to our attention that some sections of Article 1 are missing from the Constitution Annotated… We’ve learned that this is due to a coding error. We have been working to correct this and expect it to be resolved soon.”
True to their word, the deleted constitutional text was reinstated within hours on various parts of the website. A brief notice on the Constitution Annotated site stated, “is currently experiencing data issues. We are working to resolve this issue and regret the inconvenience.”
The Library of Congress emphasized the importance of maintaining such vital digital resources. “Upkeep of Constitution Annotated and other digital resources is a critical part of the Library’s mission, and we appreciate the feedback that alerted us to the error and allowed us to fix it,” their statement read. While specific technical details regarding the “coding error” were not provided, the swift action underscored their commitment to preserving online access to foundational documents.
The digital deletion occurred sometime in the weeks leading up to the public outcry, with Internet Archive records indicating the sections were present as recently as July 21st. The absence was widely discussed on platforms like Reddit and in news reports, with some users noting the specific nature of the missing content and raising initial suspicions.
Approximately 650 words were affected, primarily from Article 1, specifically portions of Section 8 and the entirety of Sections 9 and 10. Among the vital passages temporarily erased were clauses detailing Congress’s authority to establish and maintain a Navy and to mobilize the Militia for enforcing laws, suppressing insurrections, and repelling invasions.
Perhaps most notably, the section guaranteeing the fundamental right of habeas corpus was also a casualty of the digital glitch. This crucial text states: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” Other deleted provisions included the historical clause allowing the slave trade until 1808, a prohibition on bills of attainder, and several sections outlining powers explicitly denied to states.
While a website error cannot legally alter the foundational document of the United States, the incident temporarily hindered public access to key elements of the Constitution. Ironically, the attention generated by this unusual event may lead to a net positive outcome: a surge in public interest and a renewed incentive for citizens to engage directly with the U.S. Constitution.