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Now in its sixth edition with coverage of major Supreme Court
decisions through the end of the 2013-2014 term, this book remains
a key source for students, professors, and citizens seeking
balanced, up-to-date information on the Constitution, its
amendments, and how they have been interpreted. A document that is
well past two centuries old, the U.S. Constitution remains as
relevant and important today as during the time of our country's
founding. Now in its sixth edition, this single-volume work offers
a fair, non-partisan treatment of one of the most important
documents in American history. The book begins with introductory
background information on the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence and then presents a clause-by-clause explanation of
the Constitution from the preamble through all of its amendments,
addressing how each has been interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court
and other institutions throughout U.S. history. This fully updated
edition of A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its
Amendments incorporates numerous new developments in the four years
since the previous edition, including the appointments of new
Supreme Court justices, impactful cases involving First Amendment
rights for students, the Affordable Care Act, National Security
Agency (NSA) data gathering, voting rights, campaign finance law,
DNA sampling, and the ongoing battle over gay rights. As with the
previous editions, John R. Vile provides a balanced and thorough
treatment that identifies key Supreme Court decisions and other
interpretations of the document while abstaining from unnecessarily
complex and confusing explanations. Provides an accessible and
informative introduction to the creation, meaning, and continuing
role of the Constitution that is suited for high school students,
undergraduate audiences, law students and researchers, reference
librarians, and interested citizens who want to understand the
Constitution and its amendments Presents balanced treatments of all
key constitutional provisions and up-to-date information on how key
U.S. Supreme Court decisions have interpreted the Constitution
Includes a glossary, highlights of constitutional history, and a
fully updated appendix of the names and dates of U.S. Supreme Court
Justices Includes copies of the U.S. Constitution and Its
Amendments, the Declaration of Independence, and the Articles of
Confederation
An up-to-date, all-encompassing, and nonpartisan presentation of
questions and answers about the U.S. Constitution and its
amendments-an invaluable tool for readers regardless of their
political orientation. Readers will easily grasp the foundations
and purposes of the U.S. Constitution-and the critical importance
and implications of its amendments-through a series of questions
and answers about constitutional topics. The work proceeds
logically, covering each article, section, and amendment,
explaining how each constitutional change over history affects
earlier parts of the document. Created as an approachable,
introductory book for high school and college students as well as
general readers, The United States Constitution: Questions and
Answers, Second Edition is an effective learning tool when read
from start to finish, or when used to focus on and research
specific constitutional provisions of interest. Its extensively
updated and revised coverage since the first edition includes many
key cases and serves to direct paramount attention to the
constitutional document itself. Provides thoroughly revised
information through the latest term of the U.S. Supreme Court
Presents unique insights and perspective from the author's
wide-ranging research and previous publications on the subject
Ideal for students researching specific constitutional topics or
engaged in academic competitions regarding the Constitution as well
as general readers interested in following and better understanding
contemporary political issues
Including documents from the legislative, executive, and judicial
branches of government as well as sentiments expressed by opinion
leaders of the day, this book provides concisely edited primary
sources that cover the Jackson period from March 1829 through the
inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. The presidency of Andrew Jackson
is typically associated with the American expansionism that
furthered our democracy, but often at a high cost to Native
American cultures. Could similar outcomes have been achieved
differently? Historians debate whether the Civil War could have
been avoided, why attempts to avert war failed, and which
individuals had the greatest potential ability to divert the
nation's path away from violent conflict. This book examines these
historical questions regarding the unfolding of American history
through an introduction to carefully edited primary documents
relevant to the period, from the inauguration of President Andrew
Jackson through that of Abraham Lincoln. These documents include
not only major state papers from the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches, but also primary sources that directly
communicate the concerns of African Americans, women, and Native
Americans of the period. Important themes include the rising
controversy over slavery, American expansionism, and attempts to
avert crises through compromise. High school and college students
and patrons of public libraries seeking to better understand
American history will profit from the introductions and annotations
that accompany the primary documents in this book-invaluable
resources that put the information into context and explain terms
and language that have become outdated. Provides readers with a
clearer understanding of why President Andrew Jackson was such a
controversial figure Supplies historical context for explaining the
causes and effects of American westward expansionism, especially as
they related to slavery Shows how arguments for women's rights
emerged along with those of the rights for African Americans
Impartially presents the arguments both for and against slavery and
states' rights that led up to the American Civil War
The U.S. Constitution and its 27 amendments (including the Bill of
Rights) is a living document, as evidenced by new laws and Supreme
Court rulings that with each passing year change how the
Constitution's guidelines are interpreted and implemented. A
Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments is
designed to show students just how revolutionary the Constitution
was-and how relevant it remains today. This seventh revised edition
of the Companion begins by revisiting the key events leading to the
Constitution's ratification, including the writing of the
Declaration of Independence and the proceedings of the
Constitutional Convention, then explores the document article by
article, amendment by amendment, to help readers better understand
how each section of the document shapes the world we live in today.
In addition, the Companion illuminates how new laws, political
debates, and Supreme Court decisions are continually reshaping our
understanding of the Constitution and its role in American life and
society-including such essential and foundational elements of
democracy as voting; elections; the peaceful transfer of power;
equality before the law; civil rights and liberties; and the
duties, responsibilities, and obligations of the nation's three
branches of government. Thorough analysis by John R. Vile,
recognized as one of the country's leading scholars on the U.S.
Constitution In-depth and updated discussion of every
constitutional article and amendment New "Questions for Reflection
and Discussion" feature for every chapter Extended exploration of
Supreme Court decisions of major import in shaping modern
understandings of the Constitution Chronology of key events in
constitutional history
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Communism and the Cold War pervaded
almost every aspect of American policy and concern. Eisenhower's
Highway Act sought to strengthen America with the sort of roads
system and military advantage Germany's Autobahn provided in World
War II; Kennedy looked to space, the Peace Corps, and the schools
to improve America's actual and perceived status in the eyes of the
world; LBJ continually found concerns about Southeast Asia pressing
in upon him notwithstanding his desire to found a new "Great
Society" in the United States. However, despite the Cold War and
demands of international politics, these three presidents were
continually involved in critical debates about the domestic future
of America, and their roles and victories in these debates have
left deep impressions upon American society. This volume provides
readers with access to the primary documents--both foreign and
domestic--that reflect the debates that have had such a strong
influence on shaping the United States. This resource covers
thirty-two key issues and initiatives of the Eisenhower, Kennedy,
and Johnson presidencies. An introductory overview of each
president's administration provides a useful window through which
to assess the specific debates and documents addressed, and each of
these individual issues is also supplemented by a brief
introductory discussion. Among the issues covered are: Eisenhower's
attempt to establish a "new look" for national defense, the
Eisenhower doctrine, and the National Defense Education Act;
Kennedy's Alliance for Progress and Peace Corps programs, his role
in Cuba, his plans for America in space, and his work on arms
control and the Limited Test Ban Treaty; andJohnson's Civil Rights
Act, Model Cities Program, war on poverty, and role in the ground
and air wars in Vietnam. A timeline provides a chronological
backdrop for the subject, and recommended readings following each
section offer helpful direction for further study.
From distinguished author John R. Vile comes a new history of the
American early republic period, presented through primary documents
that are illuminated and explained in context. This new book in the
Documents Decoded series provides readers with an understanding of
the key documents and debates in the early American republic—from
the presidency of George Washington through that of John Quincy
Adams. With more than 50 edited primary documents relevant to
American history from 1789 through 1828, the primary source
material is organized in sections that will help readers to
identify and appreciate multiple perspectives on key issues. The
primary documents in this reference volume include laws, sermons,
presidential speeches, court decisions, proclamations, treaties,
and debates that will illuminate key issues such as the structure
of government, the protection of individual rights, slavery, and
the respective rights of the state and national governments.
Examples subjects include Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson's
debates, the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Louisiana Purchase
Treaty, "The Star-Spangled Banner," the Monroe Doctrine, and the
Missouri Compromise of 1820.
Recognition of the U.S. Constitution's importance increased
dramatically in 1826 due to the deaths of John Adams and Thomas
Jefferson, the election of President Andrew Jackson and the jubilee
celebration of the Declaration of Independence. At this time, a
period when public schools were increasing in number, educators
responded with coursework that promoted the virtues of the
Constitution to the nation's youth. Arthur J. Stansbury, a
Presbyterian minister known for his political speeches, wrote one
of the most popular textbooks used in the schools. Cast in the form
of questions and answers in a chronological explanation of the
Constitution, his "catechism" endowed patriotism with moral virtues
in his depiction of the nation's "highly favored" birth-right. "It
is a tribute to Stansbury, and to the document that he explicated,
that so many subsequent scholars have followed the pedagogical path
that he blazed." --JOHN R. VILE, XIX-XX ARTHUR J. STANSBURY
1781-1865], a New York Presbyterian minister, often preached on
political topics and was known for the patriotic fervor to his
addresses. His other publications were addresses and sermons,
reports of debates in Congress and trial records of judges and
clergymen. He also illustrated children's books, including The
Children's Friend (1821), a book about Christmas that included an
early depiction of Santa Claus.
HOW TO DRAFT A CONSTITUTION This treatise served as a practical
guidebook for states seeking to institute constitutional
conventions, and it remains relevant today. Based on a study on 192
American constitutional conventions, Jameson analyzes the nature
and sources of constitutions and shows how they are produced. Some
arise from a "spontaneous convention." Others are the result of a
"legislative convention," "revolutionary convention" or
"constitutional convention." "Jameson's work remains a legal
landmark, notably not simply as the first treatise in this area but
also for its continuing insights into issues of constitutional
change at both the state and national levels. Although it no longer
occupies the field it once did, Jameson's treatise remains the
single most comprehensive work on the subject and a fertile source
of insights and ideas." --John R. Vile, V-VI JOHN ALEXANDER JAMESON
(1824-1890) attended Harvard Law School in 1852. He served as a
Judge of the Superior Court of Chicago from 1865-1883, during which
time he issued over 100 opinions, some of which were regarded as
landmarks of family law and church governance. Jameson was one of
the founders of the American Academy of Political and Social
Science. An abolitionist, he was a founder of the Republican Party.
Gathered Together for the First Time. Proposed Amendments to the
U.S. Constitution 1787-2001: Volume IV. Supplement 2001-2010.
Clark: The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd., 2011. xii, 13]-81 pp. Hardcover.
Volume IV Supplement 2001-2010 contains: proposed amendments to the
Constitution of the United States; second half of 107th Congresses
(2001-2002); 108th Congress (2003-2004); 109th Congress
(2005-2006), 110th Congress (2007-2008); 111th Congress
(2009-2010).
Dr. John R. Vile (Ph.D., University of Virginia) is a Professor of
Political Science and Dean of the University Honors College at
Middle Tennessee State University. Vile has written and edited six
previous books on the constitutional amending process including the
award-winning Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed
Amendments, and Amending Issues: 1789-2010, now in its third
edition. Vile is also the author of Presidential Winners and
Losers: Words of Victory and Concession (2002), The Constitutional
Convention of 1787: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of America's
Founding (2005), A Companion to the United States Constitution and
Its Amendments, 5th ed. (2010), and Essential Supreme Court
Decisions: Summaries of Leading Cases in U.S. Constitutional Law,
15th ed. (2010). He is the editor of Great American Lawyers: An
Encyclopedia (2001), Great American Judges: An Encyclopedia (2003),
and a CD-ROM entitled The History of the American Legal System
(1999). He is a coeditor of The Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in
America (2005), the Encyclopedia of the First Amendment (2009),
James Madison: Philosopher, Founder, and Statesman (2008), and of
Constitutional Law in Contemporary America (2011). In addition to
writing numerous articles and reviews, Vile has authored the
introduction for the Lawbook Exchange's 2008 reprint of Noah
Webster's Sketches of American Policy.
Few events in the history of the United States were of greater
consequence than the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Although
most histories have focused on the issues and compromises that
dominated the debates, the exchanges were also shaped by the
dynamic personalities of the fifty-five delegates who attended from
twelve of the thirteen states. In The Men Who Made the
Constitution, constitutional scholar John R. Vile explores the
lives and contributions of all delegates to the 1787 Constitutional
Convention, including those who left before the Convention ended
and those who stayed until the last day but refused to sign. Each
biography records the delegate's birth, education, previous
positions or public service roles, homes, family life, life after
the Convention, death, and resting place. Drawing directly from
Convention debates and a vast array of secondary sources, Vile
covers the positions of each delegate at the Convention on both
major and minor issues and describes his service on committees and
afterward at state ratification conventions. The Men Who Made the
Constitution includes a bibliography of key sources, engravings of
delegates for whom portraits were created, a quiz on key facts, and
a transcript of the Constitution of the United States. This work is
the perfect reference for students and scholars, as well as
professional and amateur historians, of colonial and early American
history, constitutional law, and American jurisprudence.
This book is the first full-length work to present debates over the
constitutional amending process as a perennial theme in American
political thought. Beginning with a discussion of the views of
political philosophers, publicists, and legal commentators who may
have influenced the views of legal change held by the American
Founding Fathers, the work proceeds to look at the historical
influences on and discussions surrounding the amending process that
was incorporated into Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The
reader will gain a new respect for the way the amending process has
served and still serves as a safety valve for constitutional change
in the United States without permitting ill-considered or hastily
conceived modifications. This work will be of interest to political
scientists, historians, and students of American studies and legal
history.
The carefully selected and edited readings in this book are
chronologically arranged so that students can trace the progression
of events and understand the thoughts of those living during the
critical Civil War and Reconstruction periods. Both the Civil War
and Reconstruction were pivotal moments in American history that
have shaped race relations, perceptions of national power, and the
relations between the national government and the states. Powerful
political figures, who were often guided by lofty motives, found
themselves caught up in circumstances that were largely beyond
their direct control. Issues often proved far more complex than
anticipated, and many initial "solutions" that were set in motion
more than 130 years ago continue to affect current U.S. politics.
This book provides American history students and teachers with a
handy reference that examines all important aspects of the Civil
War and Reconstruction eras. The author models how an expert
scholar interacts with primary sources, thereby providing guidance
that shows readers how to pick apart and critically evaluate
firsthand the key documents chronicling these major events in
American history. The deftly edited readings in this book are
presented in chronological order so that students can trace the
progression of events and thinking of various individuals during
the critical Civil War and Reconstruction periods. Annotations
explain key terms and highlight key portions of laws, presidential
speeches and orders, Supreme Court decisions, and other sources
from the period.
Since the Reconstruction period, there have been over forty
proposals to rewrite the U.S. Constitution. John Vile's unique
historical study analyzes all of these proposals within the
framework of the constitutional amending process. In each case Vile
examines the substance of the proposal, its goals and methods, the
response to the proposal, and its overall influence--concluding
that the Constitution in its current form faces no immediate
threats. He finds no convincing cases for a new Constitution and
believes that most perceived defects can be remedied with less
drastic measures. The study illuminates issues of constitutional
change, stressing the importance of understanding alternative forms
of government and the basis for their support. While immediate
change is not likely, constitutional change will ultimately come,
and when it does, earlier criticisms and suggestions may help to
set the agenda. Proposals for change are critiques which help to
identify strengths and weaknesses in the current system. In
addition, examinations of past proposals reveal how people view the
Constitution during crises. This work will be particularly useful
for political scientists, historians, lawyers, and individuals
interested in, or involved with, efforts for constitutional change.
This book is the most comprehensive review of all the major
proposals to rewrite, revise, or even replace the U.S.
Constitution, covering more than 170 proposals from the nation's
beginnings to the present day. The U.S. Constitution was carefully
written by a remarkable group of men, but subsequent generations of
Americans have devoted enormous time and energy to "improving" it.
From colonial times to the present day, Americans of all political
persuasions have campaigned to reform, remake, or replace this key
document. The growth of the Internet and self-publishing has
spawned a virtual explosion of such proposals. This book documents
the numerous ideas for change-some practical, some idealistic, and
some bordering on fanatical-that reflect America's Constitutional
heritage and could shape the nation's future. Re-Framers: 170
Eccentric, Visionary, and Patriotic Proposals to Rewrite the U.S.
Constitution sets the stage for this review by describing various
prequels to the U.S. Constitution and explaining how the final
document emerged at the Constitutional Convention. The subsequent
chapters examine many proposed alternatives and revisions to the
Constitution from its establishment until the present, illuminating
perceived strengths and weaknesses of the current document as well
as the pros and cons of possible amendments. Readers ranging from
lay citizens who are interested in constitutional issues to
historians, political scientists, law professors, and reference
librarians will all benefit from this unparalleled examination of
proposed constitutional amendment. Discusses more than 170 proposed
major alterations in-or alternatives to-the U.S. Constitution, from
the beginning of the republic to the present Includes proposals
from nearly every political group imaginable, including advocates
of parliamentary democracy, communists, Democrats, Libertarians,
Progressives, Republicans, socialists, and Tea Party members
Presents the major plans that preceded or were considered in the
writing of the U.S. Constitution Provides biographical information
of individuals who made proposals to alter or replace the
Constitution Includes appendixes containing the full text of the
U.S. Constitution and all 27 amendments to the Constitution
This study examines contemporary questions surrounding the
process by which the U.S. Constitution can be amended. Beginning
with a description of the mechanism and history of the
constitutional amending process in America, the work considers five
major questions surrounding the amending process. The question of
justiciability: whether the courts should have authority to settle
amending issues or whether they are political questions beyond the
court's purview. The question of standards: what standards of
review should be used. The question of safety: the safety of
invoking the constitutional convention mechanism. The question of
exclusivity: whether there are legal means of changing the
Constitution short of Article V. And the question of limitations:
whether there are any unstated constitutional limits on the
amending process.
The processes of constitutional change in America are particularly
difficult to understand because of the constant interaction between
the constitutional document of 1787 and the wider set of
understandings and practices surrounding that document. This work
is the first to examine systematically the relationship between
changes initiated by constitutional amendment and changes initiated
by judicial interpretations or actions of the two elected branches
of government. By examining and comparing all three mechanisms of
constitutional revision, Vile offers a more complex and dynamic
analysis of this important constitutional issue than can be found
elsewhere in the literature.
The only reference guide to Supreme Court cases organized both
topically and chronologically within chapters so that readers
understand how cases fit into a historical context, the 18th
edition has been updated with 20 new cases, including landmark
decisions on such topics as campaign finance, Obamacare, gay
marriage, the First Amendment, search and seizure, among others.
Updated through the end of the 2021 Supreme Court session, this
book remains and indispensable resource for undergraduate and law
school students, lawyers, and everyone interested in our nation's
laws and Constitution.
At a time when the U.S. flag is both a source of both pride and
controversy, this volume provides the first encyclopedic A-to-Z
treatment of the U.S. flag in American history, culture, and law.
This title is a comprehensive resource for understanding all
aspects of the American flag and its relationship to the American
people. The encyclopedia provides a thorough historical examination
of key developments in the flag's design as well as laws and court
decisions related to the flag and the First Amendment. In relation
to the flag's history, it also discusses evolving public attitudes
about its importance as a national symbol. The encyclopedia
contains illuminating scholarly essays on presentations of the flag
in American politics, the military, and popular culture including
art, music, and journalism. Additionally, these essays address
important rules of flag etiquette and modern controversies related
to them, from flag-burning to refusing to stand during the playing
of the U.S. National Anthem.
This A-to-Z encyclopedia surveys the history, meaning, and enduring
impact of the Declaration of Independence by explaining its
contents and concepts, profiling the Founding Fathers, and
detailing depictions of the Declaration in art, music, and
literature. A comprehensive resource for understanding all aspects
of the Declaration of Independence, which marked the formal
beginning of the colonies' march toward the creation of the United
States of America, this encyclopedia contains more than 200 entries
examining various facets of the Declaration of Independence and its
enduring impact on American law, politics, and culture. It details
key concepts, principles, and intellectual influences that informed
the creation of the document, reviews charges leveled in the
Declaration against the British crown, summarizes the events of the
first and second Continental Congresses, profiles influential
architects and signers of the Declaration, discusses existing
copies of the Declaration, explains the document's influence on
other governments/nations, covers historic sites related to the
document, and discusses depictions of the document and its
architects in American art, music, and literature over time.
The only reference guide to Supreme Court cases organized both
topically and chronologically within chapters so that readers
understand how cases fit into a historical context, the 18th
edition has been updated with 20 new cases, including landmark
decisions on such topics as campaign finance, Obamacare, gay
marriage, the First Amendment, search and seizure, among others.
Updated through the end of the 2021 Supreme Court session, this
book remains and indispensable resource for undergraduate and law
school students, lawyers, and everyone interested in our nation's
laws and Constitution.
While scholars increasingly recognize the importance of religion
throughout American history, The Bible in American Law and Politics
is the first reference book to focus on the key role that the Bible
has played in American public life. In considering revolting from
Great Britain, Americans contemplated whether this was consistent
with scripture. Americans subsequently sought to apply Biblical
passages to such issues as slavery, women's rights, national
alcoholic prohibition, issues of war and peace, and the like.
American presidents continue to take their oath on the Bible. Some
of America's greatest speeches, for example, Lincoln's Second
Inaugural and William Jennings Bryan's Cross of Gold speech, have
been grounded on Biblical texts or analogies. Today, Americans
continue to cite the Bible for positions as diverse as LGBTQ
rights, abortion, immigration, welfare, health care, and other
contemporary issues. By providing essays on key speeches, books,
documents, legal decisions, and other writings throughout American
history that have sought to buttress arguments through citations to
Scriptures or to Biblical figures, John Vile provides an
indispensable guide for scholars and students in religion, American
history, law, and political science to understand how Americans
throughout its history have interpreted and applied the Bible to
legal and political issues.
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