The Constitution has ensured that the United States is governed by the rule of law rather than by a dictator.
It’s been described as a contract between the people and the government. Its Preamble provides that the Constitution’s purposes are to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty.” Yet, for such an important document, it is also remarkably short. And it is often confusing! It was written in general language, leaving much of the meaning unwritten and open to interpretation.
Exploring the history and the various clauses, amendments, and interpretations, as well as addressing the debate over how well the country has lived up to the Preamble’s lofty goals, The Constitution Explained: A Guide for Every American makes this groundbreaking document more understandable. This important book investigates …
- How the freedom of assembly allowed the women’s suffragists to march in the streets and demand the right to vote
- How the freedom of the press permitted newspapers to expose the evils of segregation
- How the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, asserting that “no state shall deny any person … the equal protection of the laws,” attempts to fight government discrimination
- The rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens
- An in-depth look at the freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights
- “The Miracle at Philadelphia” and “the Great Compromise”
- The different methods used to interpret the Constitution
- Controversial U.S. Supreme Court picks throughout history
- How the size and tenure of the Supreme Court justices has long been a contentious issue
- The remarkable evolution of death penalty jurisprudence
- And much, much more!
A guide to the citizenship and the American government, The Constitution Explained takes an evenhanded approach to controversial issues and explores various points of view. Richly illustrated, it also has a helpful bibliography and extensive index to help. This invaluable resource is designed to help you understand the power and strength of the U.S. Constitution!
