"While there are some Americans who are inclined to evaluate the moral, ethical, and medical legitimacy of abortion on a case-by-case basis, many others are strictly, unwaveringly pro-choice (favoring abortion rights) or pro-life (antiabortion). Over the last few decades, whether abortions should be legal at all--under any circumstances--has created a deep political rift across the United States. This book, which charts the shifts in interpretation...

"Americans wage many of today's fiercest policy debates and culture wars as battles over constitutional meaning. Constitutional law implicates everything from abortion to same-sex marriage to the scope of presidential power in times of war. Quite simply, many of the most important issues of the day are ultimately questions of constitutional interpretation, and the Constitution rarely answers these questions clearly. ... Questions like these lie at...

Want to make sense of the U.S. Constitution? This new edition walks you through this revered document, explaining how the articles and amendments came to be and how they have guided legislators, judges, and presidents and sparked ongoing debates along the way. You'll get the lowdown on all the big issues from separation of church and state to impeachment to civil rights that continue to affect Americans' daily lives. Plus, you'll find out about U.S....