PBS - Constitution USA (2013) Part 1: A More Perfect Union)

Breathing new life into the traditional civics lesson, Peter Sagal, host of NPR's “Wait, Wait … Don't Tell Me,” travels across the country on a Harley Davidson to find out where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn't … how it unites us as a nation and how it has nearly torn us apart. Sagal introduces some major constitutional debates today and talks with ordinary Americans and leading constitutional experts about what the Constitution actually says and what it means, the dramatic historical events and crises that have defined it, and why all this matters.

Part 1: A More Perfect Union

In A More Perfect Union, Peter Sagal explores the Constitution’s most striking and innovative feature: its resilient brand of federalism. The framers created a strong national government while at the same time preserving much of the power and independence of the states. This delicate balance of power, seemingly hard-wired for disagreement and conflict, has served America well for more than two centuries. Let's take a closer look at how it has also led to tensions throughout American history and still sparks controversy today over medical marijuana, gun control, and Obamacare.

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