The U.S. Constitution
Subtitle: a very short introduction
By: David J. Bodenhamer
Series: Very short introductions -- 566; Very short introductions -- 566.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
Published: 2018
Language: eng
Number of pages: 143
ISBN-13: 9780195378320
Subjects: Constitutional history; United States; Constitutional law
Other titles: United States Constitution
Description: "Though the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, its impact on our lives is as recent as today's news. Claims and counterclaims about the constitutionality of governmental actions are a habit of American politics. This document, which its framers designed to limit power, often has made political conflict inevitable. It also has accommodated and legitimized the political and social changes of a vibrant, powerful democratic nation. A product of history's first modern revolution, the Constitution embraced a new formula for government: it restrained power on behalf of liberty, but it also granted power to promote and protect liberty. The U.S. Constitution : A Very Short Introduction explores the major themes that have shaped American constitutional history: federalism, the balance of powers, property, representation, equality, rights, and security. Informed by the latest scholarship, this book places constitutional history within the context of American political and social history. As our nation's circumstances have changed, so has our Constitution. Today we face serious challenges to the nation's constitutional legacy. Endless wars, a sharply divided electorate, economic inequality, and immigration, along with a host of other issues, have placed demands on government and on society that test our constitutional values. Understanding how the Constitution has evolved will help us adapt its principles to the challenges of our age"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 127-135) and index.