U.S. Constitution For Dummies

Your complete guide to understanding the U.S. Constitution.

Want to make sense of the U.S. Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidentsand sparked ongoing debates along the way. Youll get the lowdown on all the big issuesfrom separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rightsthat continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, youll find out about U.S. Constitution concepts and their origins, the different approaches to interpretation, and how the document has changed over the past 200+ years.

Inside, youll find fresh examples of Supreme Court Rulings such as same sex marriage and Healthcare Acts such as Obamacare. Explore hot topics like what it takes to be elected Commander in Chief, the functions of the House and Senate, how Supreme Court justices are appointed, and so much more.

• Trace the evolution of the Constitution
• Recognize the power of the U.S. Supreme Court
• Get details on recent Supreme Court decisions
• Find new examples of the Bill of Rights

Constitutional issues are dominating the newsand now you can join the discussion with the help ofU.S. Constitution For Dummies.

As a lawyer who consults with various U.S. firms on constitutional issues and as author of a text on British constitutional law,Dr. Michael Arnheim is uniquely qualified to present an unbiased view of the U.S. Constitution, what it says, what it means, and how it's been interpreted in a variety of situations.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with the U.S Constitution 5

Chapter 1: Identifying the Main Principles and Controversies of the Constitution 7

Chapter 2: Probing Underlying Concepts: Big Thinkers, Big Thoughts 17

Chapter 3: Untangling Some Confusion and Ambiguities 31

Chapter 4: Catching a Birds-Eye View of the Constitution 43

Chapter 5: Changing the Constitution by Amendment and Interpretation 53

Part 2: We the People: How the United States Is Governed 65

Chapter 6: Scrutinizing Sovereignty: Who Rules America? 67

Chapter 7: Defining Federalism 79

Chapter 8: Separation of Powers: Checking and Balancing 89

Chapter 9: Doing Business: The Commerce Clause 107

Part 3: Assessing the Three Engines of Government: The President, Congress, and the Judiciary 117

Chapter 10: Examining the Role of the President 119

Chapter 11: Giving Everyone a Voice: The House of Representatives and the Senate 143

Chapter 12: Saying What the Law Is: The Judicial System 163

Chapter 13: Youre Fired! Investigating the Impeachment Process 181

Part 4: Guaranteeing Important Rights: The Bill of Rights 195

Chapter 14: The First Amendment: Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Assembly 197

Chapter 15: The Second Amendment: Bearing Arms 211

Chapter 16: The Third and Fourth Amendments: Protecting Citizens from Government Forces 223

Chapter 17: Taking the Fifth and a Bit of the Fourteenth 239

Chapter 18: Regulating Crime and Punishment: The Sixth through Eighth Amendments 257

Chapter 19: Analyzing an Inkblot and a Truism: The Ninth and Tenth Amendments 275

Part 5: Addressing Liberties and Modifying the Government: More Amendments 287

Chapter 20: States Rights, Elections, and Slavery: The Eleventh through Thirteenth Amendments 289

Chapter 21: The Fourteenth Amendment: Ensuring Equal Protection 303

Chapter 22: Starts, Stops, and Clarifications: Amendments since 1870 319

Part 6: The Part of Tens 337

Chapter 23: Ten Landmark Constitutional Cases 339

Chapter 24: Ten Influential Supreme Court Justices 353

Chapter 25: Two Sides of Five Constitutional Conundrums 365

Appendix: Constitution of the United States of America 379

Index 403