How is the U.S. Constitution structured? In the newest episode of our Close Reads: Explained series, Kirk tackles the Constitution and explains its biggest concepts to you. What does the Constitution of the United States teach us about the government it defines?

In this episode of Primary Source Essentials, explore the constitutional amendment process and its connection to the founding principle of popular sovereignty. Learn how the framers designed Article V to balance stability with the ability to adapt, requiring broad consensus for change. Discover how amendments have shaped American history, from the Bill of Rights to the abolition of slavery, the expansion of voting rights, and limits on presidential terms. Understand why the framers made amending the Constitution difficult, how it ensures careful deliberation, and how “we the people” continue to exercise ultimate authority in shaping the nation’s fundamental law.

This mini documentary tells the story of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where delegates debated fiercely over representation, executive power, and the protection of liberty. From the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to the Great Compromise and the creation of the presidency, discover how disagreement, debate, and compromise produced a Constitution built on natural rights, popular sovereignty, and the promise of limited government.

In the uncertain years after the American Revolution, the fate of the new republic hung in the balance. The Constitution—signed in Philadelphia after months of intense debate—was not yet the law of the land. Across the states, fierce battles erupted over its ratification. Would liberty be preserved or lost to centralized power? Federalists and Anti-Federalists clashed in newspapers, statehouses, and convention halls. From the impassioned arguments of Patrick Henry and George Mason to the razor-thin victories in Virginia and New York, this mini documentary captures the intensity and stakes of one of the most consequential debates in American history.