Fault Lines in the Constitution (Third Edition): The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today

This revised edition of an essential book on the U. S. Constitution offers insight for everyone grappling with today's most urgent political issues. Many of us take certain features in our system for granted, even when we complain about them. But in fact, they are the result of bitter haggling in an overheated room in 1787--and we're still experiencing the ramifications.

Fault Lines in the Constitution takes readers back to the creation of this historic document and discusses the original intent and worldview of the Framers, when and how problems arose after the fact, and possible solutions for those problems, inspired by both constitutions of US states and other countries. Each chapter begins with a story--all but one of them true--that connects directly back to a section of the document that forms the basis of our society and government.

Written by an award-winning middle grade author and a constitutional law scholar, this new edition has been revised to reflect political and social changes leading up to and following the 2024 national election, this new edition will include updated content throughout, two new chapters on Impeachment and Secession, and significant expansion of the chapters on Emergency Powers and Term Limits.