Updated Fourth Edition. The framers of the U.S. Constitution created a blueprint for government unlike any other in history, maximizing individual freedom while building a powerful nation. But in times of ideological partisanship, their visionary intent is often obscured by disinformation spread by pundits and politicians. "How Our Government Really Works, Despite What They Say" provides a clear alternative, an antidote to manipulations and misunderstandings by examining such divisive issues as federalism, checks and balances, activist vs. traditionalist judges, and the roles of Congress, the president, bureaucracy and the media in the context of a government based on law. It articulates what our framers meant in an engaging, readable narrative and provides readers with an understanding of the way our system of government is intended to work.This fourth edition has been updated, provided with a new index and includes transcriptions of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution.