John Vile
Biography
Dr. John Vile is a professor of political science and dean of the University Honors College at Middle Tennessee State University. Vile is a scholar of the U.S. constitutional amending process and a prolific author, writing and editing numerous books, essays, chapters, and reviews on this and related topics.
Vile was a founding editor of the two-volume First Amendment Encyclopedia, which was published in 2009 and which became the basis of the online First Amendment Encyclopedia managed by the John Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies at MTSU. He has contributed numerous entries to the encyclopedia.
Vile graduated from College of William and Mary and earned his Ph.D. in Government from the University of Virginia. He has served as chair of the Department of Social Sciences at McNeese State University and as chair of the Department of Political Science at MTSU.
He received the MTSU Foundation Distinguished Research Award in both 1993 and 1999 and the Career Achievement Award in 2011. The American Mock Trial Association awarded him the Congressman Neal Smith Award in 2000 for outstanding contributions to legal education and named him to the Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008. Vile is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Phi Kappa Phi.
Vile’s books include:
- “The Drama of Presidential Inaugurations and Inaugural Addresses from Washington Through to Biden” (2023), a 330-plus page hardback book published earlier this year by Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- “Prayer in American Public Life: An Encyclopedia” (2022)
- “The Bald Eagle and Its Legacy: An Encyclopedia of a High-Flying American Icon in U.S. History: Nature, Law and Culture” (2022), a nearly 390-page paperback book, was published in late 2022 by William S. Hein & Co. Inc.
- “America’s National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner in U.S. History, Culture, and Law” (2021)
- "The Liberty Bell and Its Legacy: An Encyclopedia of an American Icon in U.S. History and Culture" (2020)
- “The Bible in American Law and Politics: A Reference Guide” (2020)
- "The Liberty Bell and Its Legacy: An Encyclopedia of an American Icon in U.S. History and Culture" (2020)
- "Great American Lawyers: An Encyclopedia" (2020)
- "The Declaration of Independence: America's First Founding Document in U.S. History and Culture" (2018)
- “American Immigration and Citizenship: A Documentary History” (2016)
- "The Jacksonian and Antebellum Eras: Documents Decoded" (2016)
- “The Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues, 1789-2010, 3rd ed” (2010); and 4th edition (2015)
- "Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment" (2012)
- “The Writing and Ratification of the United States Constitution: Practical Virtue in Action” (2012)
- “A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments, 5th ed.” (2011); 4th ed (2006)
- “Essential Supreme Court Decisions: Summaries of Leading Cases in U.S. Constitutional Law, 15th ed.” (2010)
- "James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, and Statesman" (2008) (editor)
- "Great American Lawyers: An Encyclopedia" two volumes, (2001)
- "Constitutional Change in the United States: A Comparative Study of the Role of Constitutional Amendments, Judicial Interpretations, and Legislative and Executive Actions" (1994)
- "The Theory and Practice of Constitutional Change in America: A Collection of Original Source Materials" (1994) (editor)
- "Rewriting the United States Constitution: An Examination of Proposals from Reconstruction to Present" (1991)