The United States Constitution : questions and answers

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Title:

The United States Constitution : questions and answers

Author:

Vile, John R.

ISBN:

9781610695718

Personal Author:

Vile, John R.

Edition:

Second edition.

Physical Description:

xii, 308 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Abstract:

An up-to-date, all-encompassing, and nonpartisan presentation of questions and answers about the U.S. Constitution and its amendments.--Publisher information.

Contents:

Foundations and purposes of the United States Constitution -- Article I: The Legislative Branch -- Article II: The Executive Branch -- Article III: The Judicial Branch -- Articles IV, V, VI, and VII: Federalism, the amending process, miscellaneous matters, and ratification -- The adoption of the Bill of Rights and the meaning of the First Amendment -- The rest of the Bill of Rights and the Eleventh and Twelfth Amendments -- Amendments Thirteen through Fifteen: the post-Civil War Amendments -- Amendments Sixteen through Nineteen: the Progressive Era Amendments -- Amendments Twenty through Twenty-Seven: the modern Amendments -- 1215 through 2013: a walk through American Constitutional history -- The Constitution of the United States -- The Declaration of Independence -- Articles of Confederation -- Speakers of the House of Representatives -- United States Presidents -- United States Supreme Court Justices -- The Fifty States.

Subject Term:

Constitutional law -- United States.

Constitutional law -- United States -- Miscellanea.

POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Constitutions.

LAW -- Constitutional.

Constitutional law. (OCoLC)fst00875797

Derecho constitucional -- Estados Unidos.

Derecho constitucional -- Estados Unidos -- Miscelánea.

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Library	Material Type	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
Searching... Aurora Downtown	Reference Book	KF4550 .V553 2014	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

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.

Reviews (2)

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

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.

Introduction	p. ix
Chapter 1 Foundations and Purposes of the United States Constitution	p. 1
Chapter 2 Article I: The Legislative Branch	p. 43
Chapter 3 Article II: The Executive Branch	p. 77
Chapter 4 Article III: The Judicial Branch	p. 99
Chapter 5 Articles IV, V, VI, and VII: Federalism, the Amending Process, Miscellaneous Matters, and Ratification	p. 111
Chapter 6 The Adoption of the Bill of Rights and the Meaning of the First Amendment	p. 131
Chapter 7 The Rest of the Bill of Rights and the Eleventh and Twelfth Amendments	p. 157
Chapter 8 Amendments Thirteen through Fifteen: The Post-Civil War Amendments	p. 185
Chapter 9 Amendments Sixteen through Nineteen: The Progressive Era Amendments	p. 203
Chapter 10 Amendments Twenty through Twenty-Seven: The Modern Amendments	p. 211
Chapter 11 1215 through 2013: A Walk through American Constitutional History	p. 225
Appendices: A The Constitution of the United States	p. 243
B The Declaration of Independence	p. 267
C Articles of Confederation	p. 273
D Speakers of the House of Representatives	p. 283
E United States Presidents	p. 287
F United States Supreme Court Justices	p. 289
G The Fifty States	p. 293
About the Author	p. 295
Index	p. 297

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Summary

Summary

Reviews (2)

Booklist Review

Library Journal Review

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