WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation today released the third edition of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution, the definitive roadmap for readers to navigate each provision of our country’s foundational charter. The new book, unveiled on Constitution Day, was rewritten from the ground up to provide a thorough accounting of the Constitution’s original meaning. 

In the preface, Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. calls the Heritage Guide to the Constitution “a great place to start” for Americans who “want to understand what our Constitution means.”  

Heritage Foundation distinguished fellow emeritus Edwin Meese III, the 75th Attorney General of the United States, said in his foreword that “this volume will serve a new generation of lawyers, professors, students, and ordinary citizens who are deeply committed to the jurisprudence of originalism I spoke about four decades ago.”  

John Malcolm, vice president of Heritage’s Institute for Constitutional Government and executive editor for the new book, explained its significance: 

“Three dozen federal judges, 60 law professors, and distinguished attorneys will teach you how to understand and approach every clause of the Constitution. Each essay is rich with history and tells a story—a uniquely American story—about why that particular clause was incorporated into the ‘supreme Law of the Land.’ 

“This once-a-decade publication strives to be the definitive compendium about each provision of the Constitution. The Heritage Guide to the Constitution provides an authoritative and accessible introduction to our foundational charter.” 

Josh Blackman, centennial chair of Constitutional Law at the South Texas College of Law Houston and senior editor for the guide, added: 

"Over the past two decades, the federal judiciary has increasingly grounded its cases in the Constitution’s original meaning. Students, scholars, lawyers, and judges are now expected to understand and apply the text, history, and tradition of the Constitution. The third edition of the Heritage Guide to the Constitution will provide a comprehensive starting point to research these issues from before, during, and after the Constitution’s adoption." 

BACKGROUND 

The Heritage Guide to the Constitution provides a comprehensive and accurate explanation for each clause of the U.S. Constitution as envisioned by the Framers and as applied in contemporary law. It is meant to help lawmakers defend their role and fulfill their responsibilities in our constitutional order. Hear more about the new book from Blackman on the Case in Point podcast.