U.S. Constitution For Dummies

Foreword xix
Introduction 1
Part I: Exploring Constitutional Basics 7
Chapter 1: Constitutional Law: The Framework for Governance 9
Chapter 2: Framing the U.S. Constitution: Big Thinkers, Big Thoughts 17
Chapter 3: Debating the Constitution 31
Chapter 4: Introducing . . . the Constitution! The Preamble and the Seven Articles 43
Chapter 5: Amending versus Interpreting the Constitution: Taking Time for Change 53
Part II: We the People: How the United States Is Governed 65
Chapter 6: Scrutinizing Sovereignty: Who Rules America? 67
Chapter 7: Federalism: Forming One out of Many 79
Chapter 8: Separation of Powers: To Each His Own 91
Chapter 9: Doing Business: The Commerce Clause101
Part III: Balancing the Branches of Government: The President, Congress, and the Judiciary 113
Chapter 10: Looking at the Role of Commander in Chief 115
Chapter 11: Giving Everyone a Voice: The House of Representatives and Senate 139
Chapter 12: "During Good Behaviour": The Judicial System 157
Chapter 13: You're Fired! Investigating the Impeachment Process 179
Part IV: The Bill of Rights: Specifying Rights through Amendments 193
Chapter 14: The First Amendment: Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Assembly 195
Chapter 15: The Second Amendment: Bearing Arms 207
Chapter 16: The Third and Fourth Amendments: Protecting Citizens from Government Forces 217
Chapter 17: Taking the Fifth -- and a Bit of the Fourteenth 231
Chapter 18: Dealing with Justice and Individual Rights: The Sixth through Eighth Amendments 247
Chapter 19: The Ninth and Tenth Amendments: Leaving Things Up to the People and States 263
Part V: Addressing Liberties and Modifying the Government: More Amendments 277
Chapter 20: States' Rights, Elections, and Slavery: The Eleventh through Thirteenth Amendments 279
Chapter 21: The Fourteenth Amendment: Ensuring Equal Protection 291
Chapter 22: Starts, Stops, and Clarifications: Amendments since 1870 305
Part VI: The Part of Tens 321
Chapter 23: Ten Landmark Constitutional Cases 323
Chapter 24: Ten Influential Supreme Court Justices 329
Chapter 25: Two Sides of Five Constitutional Conundrums 337
Appendix: Constitution of the United States of America 345
Index 369