politics and ideas in the making of the Constitution
Rakove, Jack N.
1996
An interpretation of the origins of the American Constitution, examining the politics and major problems the founding fathers needed to consider when developing a national government, and discussing how to go about interpreting the original meaning of the historic document.
A study of constitutional law which interweaves excerpts from some of the Supreme Court's most important decisions with narratives of major developments in the law, and attempts to demonstrate how political and social forces influence the judicial decision-making process.
Text and cartoon illustrations provide information about the U.S. Constitution, discussing the document's history, examining the events and individuals who led to its creation, and looking at how it has been used and abused by various presidents.