First published 2012
The Constitution sparks more heated disagreement today than at almost any point in its 223-year existence. Tea Party activists insist the document exists mainly to limit federal power. Constitutional scholars split between those who demand strict adherence to the framers' original intent and others who search the text for built-in flexibility. But how could eighteenth-century founders anticipate DNA testing, computers, Medicare, or modern technology? TIME's editorial team tackles these questions by examining how the Constitution emerged from an era of upheaval and transformation. The book features an introduction from a leading American jurist and an essay by TIME managing editor Richard Stengel, who previously led the National Constitution Center. The complete 8,000-word constitutional text appears with annotations highlighting disputed passages and overlooked details. This compact guide serves citizens who want to understand America's founding document in contemporary context.
Genres: history, non-fiction, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-consent
Setting: America, United States
Period: 18th-Century, 21st-Century
144 pages · Hardcover · Time