constitution

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.

"A nonpartisan, unbiased look at the First Amendment and how it informs our daily lives, this book clearly explains the fundamentals of American politics to middle grade readers"--Provided by publisher.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution states that all people have the right to freedom of the speech and the press. This means citizens can speak, write, and publish freely. But there are limits to these rights. People continue to debate what types of speech are protected by the First Amendment. Freedom of Speech and the Press explores these rights, looking at how our understanding of these freedoms continues to change.

In the United States, citizens elect leaders to represent them in the government. They do so by voting in elections. Voting gives people a say in how the government is run. But not everyone has always had the right to vote. Throughout history, many people had to fight for equal voting rights. Fair Elections and Voting Rights explores US elections, looking at how voting has changed over time and how people keep elections fair.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that Congress "shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press." But what does that mean? In this easy-to-understand book, readers will learn more about the background and history of the First Amendment and its promises, including freedom of speech. They'll learn what that means-and doesn't mean-and more about common misconceptions about this important right. Accessible text dealing with real-life situations and graphics further explaining the details will draw in anyone interested in knowing about basic American rights.

Readers learn about the history and modern implications of the Second Amendment.

"Written more than 200 years ago, the first 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights are still in use. Understanding how these additions to the Constitution is key to understanding why the Bill of Rights is so important to United States history. All readers can benefit from understanding what the Bill of Rights is and why it exists, especially to understand modern political conversations"--Provided by publisher.

". . . explains what is in the Constitution and what it all means. You'll explore with [Hudson] . . . the powers of the President, the Congress, and the Courts--and how the three branches of government fit together. You'll look at how it protects your individual rights--and how it promotes 'the general welfare' of all citizens. Learn about the different individual rights and common goods--and how they sometimes conflict"--Back cover.

". . . [argues] that First Amendment rights have often been curtailed in efforts to block progress, and that current measures to reduce hurtful language and to end hate speech could backfire on those who promote them. To those who see free speech as a threat to democracy, Finan offers . . . evidence from a long and sometimes challenging history of free speech in America to show how free speech has been essential to expanding democracy"--Provided by publisher.

Provides an overview of the Bill of Rights for readers unfamiliar with it or in need of review.