A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments, 6th Edition

Now in its sixth edition with coverage of major Supreme Court decisions through the end of the 2013–2014 term, this book remains a key source for students, professors, and citizens seeking balanced, up-to-date information on the Constitution, its amendments, and how they have been interpreted. A document that is well past two centuries old, the U.S. Constitution remains as relevant and important today as during the time of our country's founding. Now in its sixth edition, this single-volume work offers a fair, non-partisan treatment of one of the most important documents in American history. The book begins with introductory background information on the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence and then presents a clause-by-clause explanation of the Constitution from the preamble through all of its amendments, addressing how each has been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court and other institutions throughout U.S. history. This fully updated edition of A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments incorporates numerous new developments in the four years since the previous edition, including the appointments of new Supreme Court justices, impactful cases involving First Amendment rights for students, the Affordable Care Act, National Security Agency (NSA) data gathering, voting rights, campaign finance law, DNA sampling, and the ongoing battle over gay rights. As with the previous editions, John R. Vile provides a balanced and thorough treatment that identifies key Supreme Court decisions and other interpretations of the document while abstaining from unnecessarily complex and confusing explanations. Provides an accessible and informative introduction to the creation, meaning, and continuing role of the Constitution that is suited for high school students, undergraduate audiences, law students and researchers, reference librarians, and interested citizens who want to understand the Constitution and its amendments Presents balanced treatments of all key constitutional provisions and up-to-date information on how key U.S. Supreme Court decisions have interpreted the Constitution Includes a glossary, highlights of constitutional history, and a fully updated appendix of the names and dates of U.S. Supreme Court Justices Includes copies of the U.S. Constitution and Its Amendments, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation Now In Its Sixth Edition With Coverage Of Major Supreme Court Decisions Through The End Of The 2013–2014 Term, This Book Remains A Key Source For Students, Professors, And Citizens Seeking Balanced, Up-to-date Information On The Constitution, Its Amendments, And How They Have Been Interpreted. Presents Balanced Treatments Of All Key Constitutional Provisions And Up-to-date Information On How Key U.s. Supreme Court Decisions Have Interpreted The Constitution. Includes A Glossary, Highlights Of Constitutional History, And A Fully Updated Appendix Of The Names And Dates Of U.s. Supreme Court Justices. Includes Copies Of The U.s. Constitution And Its Amendments, The Declaration Of Independence, And The Articles Of Confederation.--amazon. The Background And Purposes Of The Constitution -- Article I. The Legislative Branch -- Article Ii. The Executive Branch -- Article Iii. The Judicial Branch -- Article Iv. The Federal System -- Articles V-vii. The Amending Provision And Miscellaneous Matters -- The Bill Of Rights : The First Amendment -- The Bill Of Rights : Of Arms And Men : Amendments 2-3 -- The Bill Of Rights And The Rights Of The Accused And The Convicted: Amendments 4-8 -- The Bill Of Rights, The Rights Of The States (amendments 9-10), And Amendments 11 And 12 -- The Post-civil War Amendments : Amendments 13-15 -- The Progressive Era Amendments : Amendments 16-19 -- 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. John R. Vile. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 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. The U.S. House of RepresentativesTerms of Office and Qualifications for Voters ; Qualifications for the House ; Representation and Taxation ; The Three-Fifths Clause ; Initial State Representation ; House Vacancies ; The Speaker of the House ; The Power of Impeachment ; The U.S. Senate; Representation, Voting, and Terms ; Staggered Senate Terms and Vacancies ; Qualifications for the Senate ; The Legislative Role of the Vice President ; Other Senate Officers ; Trials of Impeachment ; The Consequences of Impeachment ; Other Matters Involving Congressional Operations ; Elections for Congress Cover; Half Title ; Title Page ; Copyright ; Dedication ; Contents ; Preface to the Sixth Edition ; Acknowledgments ; Chapter 1 The Background and Purposes of the Constitution ; The Colonial Setting ; The Declaration of Independence ; The Background of the Declaration ; The Purpose of the Document ; The Idea of Equality of Human Rights ; The Purpose of Government ; The Right of Revolution ; Charges against the English King ; Indictments against the King and the Parliament ; War Atrocities and Slavery ; Recapitulation of Earlier Petitions ; Conclusion ; The Articles of Confederation Housekeeping Provisions Congressional Compensation ; Congressional Privilege ; The Emoluments Clause ; Article I, Section 7-Procedures for Passing Laws; The Origination Clause ; Procedures for Lawmaking and Presidential Vetoes ; The Presentment Clause ; Article I, Section 8-Powers Granted to Congress; The Power of the Purse ; Power to Regulate Commerce ; A Note on Native Americans ; Power over Naturalization and Bankruptcies ; Coining Money and Establishing Uniform Standards ; Establishing a Post Office and Promoting Scientific Advances ; Establishing Lower Courts ; War Powers The Background The Principles and Structures ; The Achievements and Problems ; Prelude to the Constitutional Convention ; The Constitutional Convention ; The Delegates ; The Rules ; The Virginia Plan ; The New Jersey Plan ; Prominent Convention Issues and Compromises ; Ratification of the Constitution ; The Preamble ; The Purposes of the Constitution ; Summary ; References and Suggestions for Further Study ; Chapter 2 Article I: The Legislative Branch ; The Outline of the Constitution and Separation of Powers ; The Priority of the Legislative Branch ; Bicameralism Calling the Militia Governing the District of Columbia ; Implied Powers ; Congressional Investigations ; Article I, Section 9-Limits on Congressional Powers; Slave Importation ; The Suspension Clause and the Writ of Habeas Corpus ; Bills of Attainder and Ex Post Facto Laws ; Economic Protections for the States ; The Appropriation of Money ; Titles of Nobility ; Article I, Section 10-Limits on the States; Powers Reserved to the National Government ; The Contract Clause ; Other Economic Limits on the States ; Summary ; References and Suggestions for Further Study Chapter 3 Article II: The Executive Branch