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| The United States Constitution: What It Says, What It Means: A Hip Pocket Guide | 
 enlarge | Author: Justicelearning.org
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $4.95
Buy New: $1.78
You Save: $3.17 (64%)
Buy New/Used from $1.24
Avg. Customer Rating:  (12 reviews)
Sales Rank: 40598
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 96
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.9 x 3.2 x 0.2
ISBN: 0195304438
Dewey Decimal Number: 342.7302
EAN: 9780195304435
ASIN: 0195304438
Publication Date: September 17, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Affordable, readable, and indispensable,The United States Constitution: What it Says, What it Means allows you to put the most important document in American history in your back pocket. In conjunction with Justice Learning and The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and with an introduction written by Caroline Kennedy and an afterword written by David Eisenhower, this pocket guide appeals to the broadest possible audience. Each Article and each Amendment is followed by a clear and concise explanation, in plain English, that is suitable for both middle and high school students.
On December 8, 2004 President Bush officially signed Constitution Day into law. The law mandates that each year, on September 17th, schools and colleges that receive federal money are required to teach the Constitution. The new law was championed in Congress by Sen. Robert Byrd who famously carries around a copy of the document in his pocket. Sen. Byrd became increasingly alarmed at the lack of civics education-specifically relating to the Constitution-in our public schools and he wanted to take action.
Lightweight, easy to use and easy for everyone to understand The United States Constitution: What it Says, What it Means is an excellent way for students and citizens of all ages to read and completely comprehend the building block of American democracy.
Justice Learning (www.justicelearning.org), is a comprehensive on-line resource that offers wide-ranging non-partisan materials relating to civics education.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
Great reference December 2, 2008
This book is more than just the text of the constitution. It provides a good explanation of what the various sections and amendments really mean. You can get the text of the constitution in many places but a side by side explanation on how it has been interpreted and amended is where this book separates itself from others at this price.
 Lackluster guide for clueless people November 23, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Clueless Americans who revere the Constitution might want to buy this so they can keep thinking the Constitution isn't dead. But it is. The Constitution has been redacted, perverted, ignored and corrupted to where our government today bears little resemblance to what the Framers had in mind back in 1787.
Consider the judiciary: Marshall in 1803 seized greater judicial power than permitted by the Constitution and elevated the Supreme Court to the point where it could strike down acts by the legislature if it deemed them "unconstitutional". As a result, today's Supreme Court is a highly politicized body using the excuse of judicial review to strike down legislative acts.
Today presidential power is unchecked and unbalanced. This is highly dangerous. The executive branch can essentially legislate because it controls a vast rule-making bureaucracy which is mostly unaccountable to the public. Presidents can start wars; Congress was supposed to have this power. A danger is that a serious terrorism incident will provide an excuse for the president to assume dictatorial powers.
The rot is so great that a mere change of presidents or parties or even Constitutional amendments will not fix things -- rather, we need a second Constitutional Convention to craft a revised document (based on the old one) which fixes flaws such as gerrymandering, underrepresentation of voters from populous states in the Senate, and the list goes on and on (numerous Constitutional scholars have detailed lists of problems). Our foreign policy architecture is seriously flawed: it can't sustain an intelligent, long range foreign policy which is a necessity in a time of rising powers and the specter of nuclear terrorism. Government can't address serious long term fiscal problems like Social Security underfunding. It can't confront looming environmental dangers. It's like a crashed computer, unresponsive to keystrokes.
So I am summoning a Convention to meet in Independence Hall beginning July 4, 2009. Don't buy this book; the sequel will be available in fall 2009.
U.S. Constitution November 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is an excellent quick reference. My only complaint is that the book is a bit small (This book is apparently meant to be carried in one's pants pocket). Still, it's a very good reference and I feel I got an excellent value for my money. I do recommend it to anyone who wants a quick education on the constitution.
 Essential Clarity July 22, 2008
This is my pocket secular bible. It fits in my suit pocket, pants pocket, laptop case, Black Berry's case, brief case, and just about anywhere. It is a great reference tool whenever someone misquotes any parts of my secular bible.
my constant companion June 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I had heard that Senator Byrd of W. Virginia kept a copy of the US Constitution in his pocket. I was not sure where to get one also. I found it here at Amazon, and for a good price as well. I use to show what is actually written, if someone is in doubt. And it gives a nice, brief explanation of the meanings behind the words. I am getting a copy for all of my grown children. A very good edition.
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