U.S. Constitution for Dummies, All New Edition

An up-to-date and easy-to-read walk through of how America's Constitution actually works under the hood

Looking for an easy-to-read and crystal-clear guide to the document that shapes nearly everything about your relationship with the United States and its government? This brand-new, completely reimagined edition of the U.S. Constitution For Dummies explains the ins and outs of Congress, the executive branch, the presidency, and the Supreme Court. It provides legalese-free walkthroughs of how all those pieces fit together and how they affect your rights and responsibilities as an American.

You'll explore everything from voting rights to the limits of executive power and how American states challenge laws passed by the federal government (and vice versa). You'll discover how the Constitution influences the political process in the United States and how the nature of your constitutional guarantees and rights as a person are changing.

Inside the book:

• Brand-new discussions of how the First Amendment interacts with social media and emerging technology
• Up-to-the-minute explanations of how presidential power and accountability are affected by the Supreme Court's recent decision on presidential criminal immunity
• Explorations of recent changes in the constitutional treatment of reproductive and maternal healthcare
• In depth explanations of how the Constitution safeguards you, from Miranda warnings, search and seizure rules, legal representation, and trial rights

Perfect for students, citizens, activists, professors, and anyone else with an interest in American governance, politics, law, and society, the U.S. Constitution For Dummies is a straightforward resource that skips the jargon and misinformation and offers accurate, up-to-date, and accessible info.

Author: Glenn Smith,Melissa Mandel
Publisher: For Dummies
Published: 05/12/2026
Pages: 368
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 9.14h x 7.49w x 1.03d
ISBN: 9781394391714

About the Author

Melissa Mandel is an award-winning prosecutor who has represented the State of California before the United States Supreme Court.

Glenn Smith is an emeritus professor and has taught constitutional law for four decades. He remains active as a visiting lecturer at UCSD and is an expert in statutory interpretation, privacy, free speech, and voter initiatives.