Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments

John R. Vile is Professor of Political Science and Dean of the University Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University, USA.

An experienced teacher of constitutional law, Professor Vile has updated his valuable annotation to our Constitution in anticipation of our nation's forthcoming 250th anniversary. Events of recent years have resulted in many new constitutional challenges and John R. Vile offers us an authoritative guidebook to navigate these upheavals. During such contentious times, it is essential that citizens are truly knowledgeable about our ruling documents. This companion to our founding documents provides tools for readers to enter into these ongoing debates through resources rooted both in the language of the Constitution and the ongoing debates over its meaning.

• Preface to the Eighth EditionAcknowledgments1. The Declaration of Independence and the Events That Led to It2. The Articles of Confederation and the Writing, Ratification, and Purposes of the U.S. Constitution3. Article I: The Legislative Branch4. Article II: The Executive Branch5. Article III: The Judicial Branch6. Article IV: The Federal System7. Articles V-VII: The Amending Provisions and Miscellaneous Matters8. The Bill of Rights: The First Amendment9. The Bill of Rights: Of Arms and Men - Amendments 2-310. The Bill of Rights and the Rights of the Accused and the Convicted - Amendments 4-811. The Bill of Rights, the Rights of the People and the States - Amendments 9-10, and 11 and 1212. The Post-Civil War Amendments - Amendments 13-1513. The Progressive Era Amendments - Amendments 16-1914. The Most Recent Amendments - Amendments 20-27Reading Supreme Court DecisionsGlossaryHighlights of Constitutional HistoryU.S. Supreme Court JusticesAppendix 1: The Constitution of the United StatesAppendix 2: The Declaration of IndependenceAppendix 3: The Articles of ConfederationIndex