The U.S. Constitution ─ Explained--Clause by Clause--for Every American Today

Politicians come and go, but the Constitution stands as the supreme law of the land. Setting forth the workings of our democracy, it is the bedrock document from which we derive our policies on topics as diverse and galvanizing as immigration, gun ownership, voting rights, taxation, policing, civil liberties, and war.

In this indispensable edition, acclaimed historian and Constitutional expert Ray Raphael guides us through the origins, impact, and current relevance of the original text and all twenty-seven amendments. Here is the key historical context for issues in the news today—from the Electoral College to Washington gridlock, from peaceful protests to executive power. Thoughtful and nuanced, lively and highly readable, this annotated Constitution is for all of us to read and refer to—the ultimate political fact-checking source for every American.

Ray Raphael’s ten books on the Founding Era include A People’s History of the American Revolution (2001), Founding Myths: Stories That Hide Our Patriotic Past (2004), Mr. President: How and Why the Founders Created a Chief Executive (2012), and Constitutional Myths (2013). Having taught at Humboldt State University and College of the Redwoods, he is currently developing teaching tools for the Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource) and serving as an associate editor for the Journal of the American Revolution. He lives in Northern California.