Today is Constitution Day, the 232nd anniversary of the day that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the Constitution, setting the guidelines for our still-current form of government.

In honor of this seldom-recognized holiday, Gray Rabbit Publications is thrilled to announce the publication of Michael A. Ventrella’s new book, How to Argue the Constitution with a Conservative (lavishly illustrated by Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Darrin Bell).

The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. It established our national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed basic rights for the citizens. When it was written, it acted like a colossal merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It superseded our first national government, the Articles of Confederation, under which the states acted together only for specific purposes, but more often disagreed. The Constitution united the whole, setting the stage for a country of freedom and cooperation. Beginning with the words “We the People…”, the Constitution provided the world with a new way of thinking about people.

Building on that foundation, Michael Ventrella helps a modern audience understand what the Constitution is (and what it isn’t), and shows us how it can relate to our daily lives. With Darrin Bell’s timely illustrations, the book offers both an honest and a snarky view of political debate in the modern world. If you’re going to discuss a topic, it helps to know what you’re talking about first.

For more on the Constitution, check out the United States Constitution Center, which is marking the day with special events and free admission.

Gray Rabbit Publications actually published the book two weeks ago, but today it is widely available, ready for reading. See this page.