The Constitution Decoded: A Guide to the Document That Shapes Our Nation - Softcover

Kennedy, Katie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1523510447 ISBN 13: 9781523510443

Publisher: Workman Publishing Company, 2020

Synopsis

Be an active citizen. Know your Constitution!
 
Ever wonder why the president has a Cabinet? Why there’s such thing as trial by jury? Why someday you’ll have to pay income tax, or why there are no Dukes, Duchesses, Counts, or Countesses in the United States? Because the Constitution says so––and so much more. And now, in The Constitution Decoded, the ideas, concepts, and rules that make America are unpacked and explained in detail to help all of us, kids and parents too, become more informed citizens.
 
Written with impeccable clarity and illustrated in a style that brings America’s early days to life, this fascinating guide goes through the Constitution literally word by word, sentence by sentence, and idea by idea to give readers a true understanding of not only how the Framers envisioned the United States, but also why they made the choices they did. Here’s why, for example, the United States has three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial. It explains how bills become laws, why we have the right to free speech, how we can change the Constitution as our country evolves, and so much more.

Packed with historical context and figures, vocabulary, anecdotes, and trivia, this book is an accessible yet richly layered work that belongs in every family library.
 
 

About this title

About the Author

Katie Kennedy teaches history at a college in Iowa, although she and her husband devote most of their time to taking care of a small black dog and a large gray cat. She’s the author of the young adult novels Learning to Swear in America and What Goes Up.  She lives in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Vetter Kermit Roosevelt teaches constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is the author of two novels, Allegiance and In the Shadow of the Law, and a book about the Supreme Court, The Myth of Judicial Activism. He lives in Philadelphia, PA.

Ben Kirchner is an illustrator in Bath, England. He takes inspiration from mid-century illustration, and loves to use detail and body language to develop character on the page. He has worked for a wide range of publishing companies and news organizations, including The Chicago Tribune, the New Yorker, and the Washington Post.

Reviews

Gr 5-8-Kennedy's examination of the U.S. Constitution translates the document into accessible, modern language for young readers. The book uses an easy-to-follow format. The original text of the Constitution appears on the left page with numbered notations (similar to footnotes) corresponding to the "decoded" explanation on the right page. Kennedy clarifies the sometimes wordy, dense text and outdated spellings. There are notes about changes made to the Constitution over the course of history, namely changes implemented by amendments ratified by the states. Kirchner's cartoon-style illustrations depict important people who were involved in shaping the legal history of the country. "Did You Know?" fact boxes provide details about specific court cases, political events, and historical incidents. African American historical figures (including Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott, and Frederick Douglass) and Native American activists (Richard Oakes) discuss parts of the Constitution that have impacted marginalized Americans. The book concludes with the texts of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Back matter offers a vocabulary section, further reading, and an index. However, the original text for Article X of the Covenant of the League of Nations is missing. VERDICT In the hands of a skilled social studies teacher, this informative book will help students unpack this foundational document that impacts all Americans. Recommended for school and public libraries.-Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area Dist. Lib., Holt, MIα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
• Publication date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1523510447
• ISBN 13: 9781523510443
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Kirchner Ben
• Number of pages: 208