The Constitution is not so simple that it explains itselfnor so complex that only experts can understand it. In this accessible nonpartisan quick reference historian Andrew Arnold provides concise explanations of the Constitutions meaning and history offering littleknown facts and anecdotes about every article and all twentyseven amendments. This handy guide wont tell you what the Constitution ought to say nor what it ought to mean. It will tell you what the Constitution says and what it has meant. A Pocket Guide to the US Constitution presents a straightforward way to understand the American Constitutional system. Without wading through lengthy legal prose heavy historical analysis or polemical diatribes you can easily find out what the emoluments clause means learn about gerrymandering and separation of powers or read a brief background on why slaves in colonial America were considered 35 of a person. Small enough to put in your pocket backpack or briefcase A Pocket Guide to the US Constitution can be used to comprehend current events dig deeper into court cases or sort out your own opinions on constitutional issues.