Portland Public Library

The constitution today, timeless lessons for the issues of our era, Akhil Reed Amar

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

The constitution today

bibliography

941875543

Akhil Reed Amar

timeless lessons for the issues of our era

"A leading legal scholar addresses the most important constitutional controversies of the past two decades and illuminates the Constitution's spirit and ongoing relevance When the stories that lead our daily news involve momentous constitutional questions, present-minded journalists and busy citizens cannot always see the stakes clearly. In The Constitution Today, Akhil Reed Amar, America's preeminent constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades--from gun control to gay marriage, affirmative action to criminal procedure, presidential dynasties to Congressional dysfunction, Bill Clinton's impeachment to Obamacare. He shows how the Constitution's text, history, and structure are a crucial repository of collective wisdom, providing specific rules and grand themes relevant to every organ of the American body politic. Leading readers through the particular constitutional questions at stake in each episode while outlining his abiding views regarding the Constitution's letter, its spirit, and the direction constitutional law must go, Amar offers an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand America's Constitution and its relevance today"--, Provided by publisher"In The Constitution Today preeminent legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar examines the collision between the U.S. Constitution's grand temporal ambitions and the tight deadlines of the popular press by reviewing how he himself has intervened as a vocal commentator on the biggest and most bitterly contested constitutional issues of the last quarter century. Assembled here along with new reflective essays, Amar's commentary looks to the U.S. Constitution's text, history, and structure for the specific rules and grand themes relevant to every vital organ of the American body politic"--, Provided by publisher

Introduction : The Constitution on deadline -- Part I. Modern branches : The presidency : a return to dynasty? -- The vice presidency: nothing, but maybe everything -- The congress: how to fix a broken branch -- The judiciary: who judges the judges? -- Part II. Culture wars : Criminal procedure: from O.J. to DNA. -- Citizens dis-united: race, guns, gays, and more -- Constitutional anniversaries: remembering to remember -- Part III. Presidential dramas : Bill Clinton's drama: his partisan impeachment -- George W. Bush's drama: his un-popular election -- Barack Obama's drama: his signature statute -- Conclusion : Just, in time