John Vile is a professor of political science and the 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 numerous books, essays, chapters and reviews on the constitution and related topics. He was one of the three original editors for the two-volume Encyclopedia of The First Amendment, published in 2009 and which is now part of The First Amendment Encyclopedia website at MTSU.
Vile is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and earned his doctorate in government from the University of Virginia. He has served as chair of the Department of Social Sciences at McNeese State University and chair of the Department of Political Science at MTSU before becoming dean in the Honors College. He was named as the Phi Kappa Phi Scholar for 2020-2022.
Among his books:
- “Encyclopedia of Presidential Vetoes from Washington Through to Biden: History, Subjects, and Procedures” (2024).
- “The Christian Cross in American Public Life: An Encyclopedia” (2024).
- “The Drama of Presidential Inaugurations and Inaugural Addresses from Washington through to Biden” (2023)
- “Prayer in Public Life” (2022)
- “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)
- “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)
- “Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues, 1789-2015, 4th edition” two volumes. (2015)
- “Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment” (2012)
- “Proposed Amendments to the U.S. Constitution 1787-2001, Vol. IV Supplement 2001-2010.” (2011)
- “Essential Supreme Court Decisions: Summaries of Leading Cases in U.S. Constitutional Law” (2010)
- “James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, and Statesman” (2008) (editor)
- “A Companion to the United States Constitution and its Amendments (4th Edition)” (2006) (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)