Why the Constitution matters

the long version

"Mark Tushnet has squared the circle by writing a book that is both accessible and highly sophisticated. An admirable achievement that should improve public discourse about the role of the Constitution."--Adrian Vermeule, John H. Watson, Jr., Professor of Law, Harvard Law School. "An outstanding introduction to the many ways that the Constitution shapes American politics, and politics shapes American constitutional law."--Jack M. Balkin, Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment, Yale Law School. "Mark Tushnet has issued another bold challenge to constitutional orthodoxy in the United States. His incisive examination of how the Constitution of the United States does more to structure politics than dictate specific outcomes will fascinate lawyers, political scientists, and citizens."--Mark Graber, Professor of Law and Government, University of Maryland. "Mark Tushnet has written a profoundly important and illuminating book in a wonderfully conversational style. It deserves to be read by scholars, students, and citizens alike who wish to learn what difference it might truly make that we conduct our politics under the aegis of the Constitution."--Sanford Levinson, author of Our Undemocratic Constitution --Book Jacket.