This book is for those who are not only interested in law, but how the law works in daily practice when it comes to the limitation of powers. Readers are first given a history of the development of the rule of law and the basic principles of the legal system among societies through the ages. The book then explains the rule of law in America and how the American legal system came about and evolved. Profiled are seminal court cases that helped shape the rule of law into what it is today. The text analyzes controversial legal issues, such as terrorism, national security, and the legality of drone strikes. It also offers a look at legislation in the future with evolving technologies that test First Amendment rights. With an appendix that includes the actual text from the Bill of Rights, this book is a comprehensive companion for any student of social studies.