Our Constitution - Hardcover

Ritchie, Donald A.; JusticeLearning.org

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195223853 ISBN 13: 9780195223859

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2006

Synopsis

An in-depth look at the entire text of the U. S. Constitution, annotated with detailed explanations of its terms and contents. Each Amendment and Article is accompanied by sidebar material on the history of its application, including profiles of important Supreme Court cases, texts of related primary source documents, and contemporary news articles. Double page timelines for several of the Articles and all the Amendments highlight important events and legal cases. Visually stunning, with facsimile reproductions of primary source documents, paintings, photos, and historical artifacts, Our Constitution is perfect for history students.

About this title

About the Author

Donald A. Ritchie is Assoicate Historian at the U.S. Senate Historical Office.

Reviews

Grade 7 Up–This appealing, well-organized volume begins with five chapters of background (Why have a constitution? How has it changed?) and then goes on to discuss the preamble, articles, and amendments, using a What It Says (word for word) and What It Means format. Every spread contains photos, reproductions, and sidebars, all of which invite students to read and understand this living document. The amendments section has time lines of events and court decisions in which the amendment has been cited. For example, the Sixth Amendment (speedy and public trial) includes the Scottsboro Boys Trial in 1932, a decision about excluding Mexican Americans from a jury in 1954, questions about jury size from a 1970 decision, and the 2001 presidential order that permits military trials of suspected terrorists. The substantial back matter includes an excellent Constitutional glossary, a lengthy annotated list for further reading, two pages of annotated Web sites, and a listing of museums and historic sites related to the Constitution. Far more thorough and engaging in format than Cathy Travis's Constitution Translated for Kids (Synergy, 2006), this is an excellent, well-documented addition for most libraries.–Linda Beck, Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA
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Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195223853
• ISBN 13: 9780195223859
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256