Looking at congressional hearings between 1971 and 2000, we examine why, when, and how Congress makes use of committees to assess constitutional questions. While individual issues and presidential administrations come and go, Congress maintains a fairly consistent and constant level of activity in discussing constitutional issues. While the Judiciary Committees dominate congressional discussion of the Constitution, they do not monopolize it and myriad committees encounter constitutional issues as they go about their business. Some congressional discussions of constitutional matters are driven by the actions of the courts or the executive branch, but most hearing activity reflects the legislative and political interests of the political parties and the legislators themselves.