This volume explores the ongoing debates in the American Constitution through matters of interpretation, explanation, and significance. Prof. Rakove uses the Four Is to examine these issues: interests, ideas, ideaologies and institutions. He then carefully analyses the language used in the Constitution to define eighteenth century key concepts to understand the document in the context of its historical time period. Lastly, the book looks at current issues such as race, amendments to the Constitution and future concerns as we grow and develop as a nation further from the time of its origin in 1787.