Description
Book SynopsisThe Constitution is not so simple that it explains itself—nor so complex that only experts can understand it. In this accessible, nonpartisan quick reference, historian Andrew Arnold provides concise explanations of the Constitution's meaning and history, offering little-known facts and anecdotes about every article and all twenty-seven amendments. This handy guide won’t tell you what the Constitution ought to say, nor what it ought to mean. It will tell you what the Constitution says and what it has meant. A Pocket Guide to the US Constitution presents a straightforward way to understand the American Constitutional system. Without wading through lengthy legal prose, heavy historical analysis, or polemical diatribes, you can easily find out what the emoluments clause means, learn about gerrymandering and separation of powers, or read a brief background on why slaves in colonial America were considered 3/5 of a person. Small enough to put in your pocket, backpack, or briefcase, A Pocket Guide to the US Constitution can be used to comprehend current events, dig deeper into court cases, or sort out your own opinions on constitutional issues.
Table of ContentsPreface to the Second EditionNote to the Reader Constitution and Amendments I. Structure and Preamble “We the people. . .”Preamble II. Three Branches of Government Article 1. LegislativeArticle 2. ExecutiveArticle 3. Judiciary III. Limitations on State SovereigntyArticle 4. States IV. Ratification, Amending, and National SupremacyArticle 5. Amending the ConstitutionArticle 6. National SupremacyArticle 7. Ratification Process V. Amendments1-10. Bill of Rights11-12. Early Refinements13-15. Civil War Amendments16-19. Progressive Era20-22. New Deal and Post-World War II23-27. Most Recent Conclusion AcknowledgmentsBibliographyIndex
