A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments: America's Continuing Revolution

by John R. Vile

Overview

Charting 250 years of history, the 8th edition of this constitutional companion shows students just how revolutionary the Constitution was-and how relevant it remains today.

After revisiting the key events leading to the Constitution's ratification, including the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention, this book explores the Constitution article by article, and amendment by amendment, to help readers better understand how each section of the document shapes the America we live in today.

The 8th edition illuminates how recent 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 issues as Donald Trump's immunity from prosecution for the January 6th riots, Mike Pence's role in certifying Electoral College votes, Ketanji Brown Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court, and the Dobbs decision, among other controversial developments.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798765130551
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/24/2025
Edition description:	8th ed.
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

John R. Vile is professor of political science and dean of the University Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, USA.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Eighth Edition
Acknowledgments
1. The Declaration of Independence and the Events That Led to It
2. The Articles of Confederation and the Writing, Ratification, and Purposes of the U.S. Constitution
3. Article I: The Legislative Branch
4. Article II: The Executive Branch
5. Article III: The Judicial Branch
6. Article IV: The Federal System
7. Articles V-VII: The Amending Provisions and Miscellaneous Matters
8. The Bill of Rights: The First Amendment
9. The Bill of Rights: Of Arms and Men - Amendments 2-3
10. The Bill of Rights and the Rights of the Accused and the Convicted - Amendments 4-8
11. The Bill of Rights, the Rights of the People and the States - Amendments 9-10, and 11 and 12
12. The Post-Civil War Amendments - Amendments 13-15
13. The Progressive Era Amendments - Amendments 16-19
14. The Most 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

Editorial Reviews

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.” —Michelle D. Deardorff, Adolph S. Ochs Professor of Government, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, USA

“John R. Vile's A Companion to the United States Constitution and its Amendments does for this generation what John S. Hart's A Brief Exposition of the Constitution of the United States and Edward S. Corwin's The Constitution and What it Means Today did for previous ones. It takes the reader on an article-by-article, section-by-section, clause-by-clause, amendment-by-amendment analysis of the U.S. Constitution. Every student of the Constitution will find the commentary informative. The study of the Constitution has never been a formal part of most school curricula; yet to each of us belongs the challenge of learning it. This book will help.” —Richard A. Glenn, Professor and Chair of Government, Policy, and Law, Millersville University, USA

“When teaching Constitutional Law, my students need to understand the cases we look at their proper constitutional setting. With its current and concise expansion of the Constitution's text, I know of no better book to accomplish that goal.” —Jonathan R. Peterson, North Park University Chicago, USA

“John Vile's A Companion to the United States Constitution and its Amendments is perhaps the best reference book and teaching tool on the market for those interested in the history, context, and evolution of the US Constitution. It is well-researched, elegantly written, and lucid in providing both original documents and commentary. Students and scholars will find this an essential read and reference.” —David Schultz, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Legal Studies, Hamline University, USA

From the Publisher