On August 6, 2025, the Library of Congress acknowledged that key sections of the U.S. Constitution—specifically parts of Article I Section 8, and the entire Sections 9 and 10, which cover habeas corpus, foreign emoluments, and limits on congressional and state power—had disappeared from its official Constitution Annotated website. Officials described the change as a "coding error" and confirmed the missing content has since been restored.
The Invisible Rights
Sections 9 and 10 contain some of our most fundamental protections, including habeas corpus (the right to challenge unlawful detention), the foreign emoluments clause (preventing public officials from taking unapproved payments from foreign governments), and boundaries on federal and state powers.
Their absence—even if unintentional—raises uncomfortable questions about institutional transparency, digital oversight, and how easily essential rights can be rendered invisible.
Why This Still Matters
Due process—the principle that government cannot deprive anyone of life, liberty, or property without fair and proper legal procedures—is guaranteed by both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
This principle is deeply rooted in democratic governance; it ensures individuals have notice, a hearing, and an impartial adjudicator before facing government action.
Removing these protections from official digital record—even temporarily—can send a chilling message about the durability of constitutional safeguards.
A Pattern of Website Redactions
This incident isn’t an isolated glitch. In early 2025, various federal websites lost pages covering equity and LGBTQ+ history, Spanish-language resources on the constitution, victories of Black and Hispanic veterans, and even guides on civil rights enforcement.
These removals aligned with broader administrative changes and sparked criticism for erasing institutional memory and sidelining marginalized histories.
PRO’s Take: Rights Shouldn’t Disappear Because of a Bug
At PRO, we believe that civil and political rights must remain visible—digitally and institutionally—at all times. Whether removal is accidental or intentional, it highlights how easily democratic knowledge can be undermined or overlooked.
This moment challenges youth and activists to push for:
Public accountability, even for non-political administrative decisions.
Stronger oversight of how government platforms operate and update.
Transparency whenever foundational documents are altered or go offline.
For Young Activists: What You Can Do
Keep archived versions of official content—you never know when it may disappear.
Speak out when digital resources vanish, especially if they concern rights or representation.
Demand clarity about the decisions and systems behind government websites.
Support groups that monitor institutional memory—especially around civil liberties and marginalized communities.
True rights live not just in words, but in public access and accountability. If essential legal protections can vanish due to a coding error, we have to ask: Who decides what stays online—and what disappears? Stay informed. Stay vigilant. Protect your rights—digitally and beyond.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse