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We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution
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About This Book
The U.S. Constitution is among the oldest constitutions in the world--and one of the most difficult to amend. At what cost? In this landmark, lavishly illustrated book, Harvard professor of history and law Jill Lepore argues that the philosophy of amendment is foundational to American constitutionalism. Challenging both originalism and the Supreme Court's monopoly on constitutional interpretation, Lepore argues that the framers never intended for the Constitution to be kept, like a butterfly, under glass, but instead expected that future generations would be forever tinkering with it, improving the machinery of government. In an account as radical as Charles Beard's An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, Lepore offers a sweeping, lyrical, and democratic constitutional history, telling the stories of generations of Americans who have attempted everything from abolishing the Electoral College to guaranteeing environmental rights, hoping to mend America by amending its constitution.
Reviews
"Lepore highlights periods in American history when amending the Constitution was an important and accessible tool, and periods when amending faced great obstacles."
"It's a galvanizing and paradigm-shifting take on America's slow descent into plutocracy."
"With the Constitution under daily threat, Lepore's outstanding book makes for urgent reading."
"Persuasively contends that we still can learn from the long trail of would-be amenders and constitutionalists."
"Lepore senses peril but also a whiff of democratic revival."
"While Lepore has a tendency to meander into topics that, depending on a reader's taste, can serve as either illuminating avenues of exploration or distracting tangents, she remains on firm ground when calling for a transformation of the Constitution into a dynamic force for change ..."
"Those who recognise the constitution's defects can take heart from Lepore's history, which shows that it has been changed in the past and that even when such efforts have failed they have significantly enhanced democratic debate."
"Lepore warns that her book is neither 'a treatise on constitutional law' nor 'a compendium of Supreme Court decisions' ..."
"Lepore provides the insights necessary to appreciate the struggles of the past and navigate present and future challenges."
"requires only a curiosity about American history, and not a law degree, to appreciate Lepore's lucid arguments."
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