A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments

John R. Vile

• Publisher: Praeger
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN:
  9781440877940
• Edition: 7
• eBook ISBN:
  9798216063865
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Early American History
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The U.S. Constitution and its 27 amendments (including the Bill of Rights) is a living document, as evidenced by new laws and Supreme Court rulings that with each passing year change how the Constitution's guidelines are interpreted and implemented.

A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments is designed to show students just how revolutionary the Constitution was—and how relevant it remains today. This seventh revised edition of the Companion begins by revisiting the key events leading to the Constitution's ratification, including the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention, then explores the document article by article, amendment by amendment, to help readers better understand how each section of the document shapes the world we live in today.

In addition, the Companion illuminates how new laws, political debates, and Supreme Court decisions are continually reshaping our understanding of the Constitution and its role in American life and society—including such essential and foundational elements of democracy as voting; elections; the peaceful transfer of power; equality before the law; civil rights and liberties; and the duties, responsibilities, and obligations of the nation's three branches of government.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface to the Seventh Edition
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1: The Background and Purposes of the Constitution
• Chapter 2: Article I: The Legislative Branch
• Chapter 3: Article II: The Executive Branch
• Chapter 4: Article III: The Judicial Branch
• Chapter 5: Article IV: The Federal System
• Chapter 6: Articles V–VII: The Amending Provision and Miscellaneous Matters
• Chapter 7: The Bill of Rights—The First Amendment
• Chapter 8: The Bill of Rights: Of Arms and Men—Amendments 2–3
• Chapter 9: The Bill of Rights and the Rights of the Accused and the Convicted—Amendments 4–8
• Chapter 10: The Bill of Rights, the Rights of the States (Amendments 9–10), and Amendments 11 and 12
• Chapter 11: The Post–Civil War Amendments—Amendments 13–15
• Chapter 12: The Progressive Era Amendments—Amendments 16–19
• Chapter 13: The Recent Amendments—Amendments 20–27
• Reading Supreme Court Decisions
• Glossary
• Highlights of Constitutional History
• U.S. Supreme Court Justices
• Appendix 1: The Constitution of the United States
• Appendix 2: The Declaration of Independence
• Appendix 3: The Articles of Confederation
• Index