constitution

Discover the truth about the Fourteenth Amendment, civil rights, and the United States' continued fight for equality in this singular nonfiction book for young readers.

Readers learn about women fighting for their equal rights, the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, the Night of Terror, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and how the women's suffrage movement connects to modern issues.

Written by political savant Ben Sheehan, and vetted for accuracy by experts in the field of constitutional law, What Does the Constitution Actually Say? is an entertaining and accessible primer on what our Constitution actually lays out. With clear notes and graphics on everything from presidential powers to Supreme Court nominations to hidden loopholes, Sheehan walks us through the entire Constitution (with a bonus section on the Declaration of Independence). Besides putting the Constitution in modern-day English (so that it can be understood), What Does the Constitution Actually Say? gives you everything you need to be an effective voter and citizen in the November elections and beyond.

"A timely, revelatory look at freedom of speech-our most basic right and the one that protects all the others. Free speech is a human right, and the free expression of thought is at the very essence of being human. The United States was founded on this premise, and the First Amendment remains the single greatest constitutional commitment to the right of free expression in history. Yet there is a systemic effort to bar opposing viewpoints on subjects ranging from racial discrimination to police abuse, from climate change to gender equity. These measures are reinforced by the public's anger and rage; flash mobs appear today with the slightest provocation. We all lash out against anyone or anything that stands against our preferred certainty. The Indispensable Right places the current attacks on free speech in their proper historical, legal, and political context. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were not only written for times like these, but in a time like this. This country was born in an age of rage and for 250 years we have periodically lost sight of the value of free expression. The history of the struggle for free speech is the story of extraordinary people-nonconformists who refuse to yield to abusive authority-and here is a mosaic of vivid characters and controversies. Jonathan Turley takes you through the figures and failures that have shaped us and then shows the unique dangers of our current moment. The alliance of academic, media, and corporate interests with the government's traditional wish to control speech has put us on an almost irresistible path toward censorship. The Indispensable Right reminds us that we remain a nation grappling with the implications of free expression and with the limits of our tolerance for the speech of others. For rather than a political crisis, this is a crisis of faith"--.

"The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution is more than 200 years old. It was written in response to a very specific action on the part of the British government during the colonial era. So how is it relevant today? This book examines the ways a law written to protect homes, people, and material possessions has changed to adapt to technology that didn't exist at the time it was written"--Provided by publisher.

"The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people who have been accused of crimes. It ensures American citizens can receive a 'speedy and public trial . . . by an impartial jury.' It also ensures that trials will be held in the state in which the alleged crime occurred. Perhaps most significant, the Sixth Amendment says people have a right to a lawyer, even if they can't afford it. The Seventh Amendment extends the right to a trial by jury to federal civil cases"--Provided by publisher.

"You've probably heard the phrase 'I plead the fifth' in the news, but what exactly does that mean? Inside this detailed guide, readers will explore the language, history, and impact of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and come to understand how it has served American citizens since the late 1700s. 'Pleading the Fifth' is a phrase sometime used in court to mean 'I refuse to answer questions because it might be harmful to myself.' But the Fifth Amendment also protects citizens in other ways, including the right to be heard by a jury"--Provided by publisher.

"The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights prohibits the use of 'cruel and unusual punishment.' That phrase was written at a time when burning and beheading were still acceptable legal punishments in some places. Much has changed in America in two centuries. This easily accessible guide examines the context that inspired the Founding Fathers to include this phrase, as well as the concept of 'evolving standards of decency'"--Provided by publisher.

"The Ninth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights notes that people have more rights than those listed in the document. And, according to the Tenth Amendment, the federal government has only those powers expressly stated in the Constitution. All other powers are given to the states and the people. This title explores the concept of individual rights and states' rights, defining the terms and examining the ways that these ideas have clashed throughout our nation's history"--Provided by publisher.

The events surrounding the creation of the U.S. Constitution did not look the same to everyone involved. Readers can step back in time and into the shoes of a serving girl at a Pennsylvania boardinghouse, a law clerk in the state of Virginia, and an apprentice printer as readers act out scenes that took place in the midst of this historic event. Written with simplified, considerate text to help struggling readers, books in this series are made to build confidence as readers engage and read aloud. Includes a table of contents, glossary, index, author biography, sidebars, and timeline.