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Title details for The Constitution by Luke Paulsen - Available

The Constitution

An Introduction

by Luke Paulsen
Michael Stokes Paulsen
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
From war powers to health care, freedom of speech to gun ownership, religious liberty to abortion, practically every aspect of American life is shaped by the Constitution. This vital document, along with its history of political and judicial interpretation, governs our individual lives and the life of our nation. Yet most of us know surprisingly little about the Constitution itself, and are woefully unprepared to think for ourselves about recent developments in its long and storied history.
The Constitution: An Introduction is the definitive modern primer on the US Constitution. Michael Stokes Paulsen, one of the nation's most provocative and accomplished scholars of the Constitution, and his son Luke Paulsen, a gifted young writer and lay scholar, have combined to write a lively introduction to the supreme law of the United States, covering the Constitution's history and meaning in clear, accessible terms.
Beginning with the Constitution's birth in 1787, Paulsen and Paulsen offer a grand tour of its provisions, principles, and interpretation, introducing readers to the characters and controversies that have shaped the Constitution in the 200-plus years since its creation. Along the way, the authors provide correctives to the shallow myths and partial truths that pervade so much popular treatment of the Constitution, from school textbooks to media accounts of today's controversies, and offer powerful insights into the Constitution's true meaning.
A lucid and engaging guide, The Constitution: An Introduction provides readers with the tools to think critically and independently about constitutional issues—a skill that is ever more essential to the continued flourishing of American democracy.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 1, 2015

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781469093031
      • File size: 418225 KB
      • Duration: 14:31:18

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 25, 2015
      Constitutional scholar Michael Stokes Paulsen and his son, Luke, offer an uncomplicated but sophisticated primer on the U.S. Constitution that is kept lively by their unabashedly candid evaluations of important Supreme Court opinions. They cover the basics well, with thoughtful interpretations of groundbreaking opinions on the free speech guarantee of the First Amendment, the abortion rights case Roe v. Wade, and the 14th Amendment, which was designed to provide equal rights to citizens regardless of race. Beyond the basics, the book features in-depth treatment of the founders' approach to the issue of slavery as well as how the Supreme Court approached constitutional amendments aimed at ending discrimination in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. About the latter, the authors bluntly state that the Supreme Court embraced discrimination, contrary to the intent of the amendments. The discussion is highly relevant to the question of race in contemporary America. Readers will also appreciate the analysis of the constitutionally set boundaries of legislative and presidential powers, a hotly debated issue at the moment. The Paulsens humanize their approach by including brief profiles of individuals at the center of Constitutional moments, including Dred Scott, Ernesto Miranda, and Norma McCorvey (aka Jane Roe). This is a useful, accessible, and pertinent overview that is well seasoned with opinion.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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