Descripciones mejoradas de Syndetics:

* What famous American refused to attend the Constitutional Convention because he smelt a rat?

* Why was a Bill of Rights omitted from the original Constitution?

* Can a president be sued for actions he takes in office?

* On what grounds may Congress punish its members?

* Where did the expression separate but equal originate?

* Do juvenile defendants have the same constitutional protection as adults?

* Is obscenity protected by the First Amendment freedoms of speech and press?

* What is the Lemon test?

* What is the only Constitutional Amendment that has been ratified by special state conventions rather than by state legislatures?

These and many more provocative questions are answered in this easy-to-follow guide that makes learning about the Constitution fun for students. Written clearly, this guide addresses those topics of the Constitution students inquire most about, from its origins and background through the adoption of the 27th Amendment. The information in each chapter is organized in a logical progression to carry the reader along to a basic understanding of the provisions and is peppered with fascinating facts and intriguing legal interpretations of topics of interest to young adults.

Ten chapters cover everything from the foundations and purposes of the Constitution to the 27th Amendment. The last chapter, A Walk Through American Constitutional History, uses the question-and-answer format to focus on key dates and events in American constitutional history. A selection of photos complements the text. Appendixes include the 100 questions and answers used by the Immigration and Naturalization Service for prospective citizens; lists of all Speakers of the House of Representatives, Presidents, and Supreme Court Justices from the beginning of the republic to the present; the date of admission to the union and the current number of congressional representatives of the 50 states; and the texts of the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation.

Tabla de contenidos provista por Syndetics

• Preface(p. ix)
• Chapter 1 Foundations and Purposes of the United States Constitution(p. 1)
• Chapter 2 Article I: The Legislative Branch(p. 39)
• Chapter 3 Article II: The Executive Branch(p. 71)
• Chapter 4 Article III: The Judicial Branch(p. 93)
• Chapter 5 Articles IV, V, VI, and VII: Federalism, the Amending Process, Miscellaneous Matters, and Ratification(p. 105)
• Chapter 6 Amendments One Through Twelve: The Bill of Rights and the Eleventh and Twelfth Amendments(p. 125)
• Chapter 7 Amendments Thirteen Through Fifteen: The Post-Civil War Amendments(p. 173)
• Chapter 8 Amendments Sixteen Through Nineteen: The Progressive Era Amendments(p. 191)
• Chapter 9 Amendments Twenty Through Twenty-Seven: The Modern Amendments(p. 199)
• Chapter 10 A Walk Through American Constitutional History, 1215-1997(p. 213)
• Appendixes
• A. The Constitution of the United States(p. 231)
• B. The Declaration of Independence(p. 257)
• C. Articles of Confederation(p. 263)
• D. 100 Questions and Answers Used by the Immigration and Naturalization Service(p. 273)
• E. Speakers of the House of Representatives(p. 285)
• F. United States Presidents(p. 289)
• G. United States Supreme Court Justices(p. 291)
• H. The Fifty States(p. 297)
• Index(p. 301)

Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Tennessee didn't ratify the 15th Amendment preventing the abridgment of voting rights until 1997-127 years after the amendment became law. The limit on presidential terms was ratified in 1951 after Franklin Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented four terms in office. These facts plus many more make up this well-researched book that answers most of the questions readers may have regarding the history and application of, and controversies surrounding, the U.S. Constitution. The questions posed by constitutional scholar Vile (political science, Middle Tennessee State Univ.; A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments) in this extensively revised and updated second edition vary from the simple, such as "What is a quorum?" to more complex subjects such as "In what way has the scope of the Bill of Rights expanded in modern times?" Solid bibliographies closing each chapter will lead the curious reader to additional resources, and appended copies of the referenced documents will allow researchers to compare the whole text of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of the Confederation to the information provided in the answers. Additional appendixes include lists of the Speakers of the House of Representatives, U.S. Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and one relating to states that includes date of admission to the Union and the number of members in the House of Representatives. The index is of great use if searching for specific data. -VERDICT Perfect for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of Constitutional history.-Susanne Caro, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Curious about letters of marque and reprisal, symbolic speech, or concurrent powers? In this thorough update to the 1998 edition, eminent constitutional scholar Vile provides information about these and many of the other multitude of big (and small) questions that surround not only the U.S. Constitution but also its foundations and evolution over the last 226 years. In an easy-to follow and succinct Q&A format, the book surveys all the big issues from the separation of powers to landmark Supreme Court rulings without any glaring omissions. The work includes chapters on constitutional foundations; surveys of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches; and historical expositions of the amending process. Each chapter concludes with well-chosen references for further research. The handy reference includes the text of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of Confederation in addition to lists of presidents, Supreme Court justices, and Speakers of the House of Representatives. Vile's nuanced overview provides students and general readers seeking a better understanding of the founding document with an excellent educational primer.--Odom, Brian Copyright 2014 Booklist

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

JOHN R. VILE is Chair of the Political Science Department at Middle Tennessee University. He is author of Companion to the U.S. Constitution and Its Amendments (Greenwood, second edition, 1997), Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues (1996), and numerous other books on the United States Constitution.