Description: "A guide the citizenship and the American government, The Constitution Explained takes an even-handed approach to controversial issues and explores various points of view. It sheds a light on the differing and changing interpretations of the many broadly worded key phrases in the Constitution. You'll learn how the Constitution has been adopted to different times and various situations. You'll learn what it does-and does not-promise U.S. citizens. Richly illustrated, it also has a helpful bibliography, glossary, and extensive index. This invaluable resource is designed to help you understand the power and strength of the U.S. Constitution!"--
Brief description:
David L. Hudson, Jr., JD is an Assistant Professor of Law, teaching
First Amendment Law and Bar Exam Workshop at Belmont University's
College of Law. For 17 years, he was an attorney and scholar at the
First Amendment Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Hudson also has
taught classes at Vanderbilt Law School and the Nashville School of
Law, and he served as a senior law clerk for the Tennessee Supreme
Court. In June 2018, the Nashville School of Law awarded him its
Distinguished Faculty Award. He earned his undergraduate degree from
Duke University and his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School. He is
an author, co-author, or co-editor of more than 40 books, including
Visible Ink Press's The Handy Law Answer Book, The Handy
Supreme Court Answer Book, and The Handy American History
Answer Book, as well as Let The Students Speak: A History of
the Fight for Free Expression in American Schools and The
Encyclopedia of the First Amendment (co-editor). He writes
regularly for the American Bar Association's Preview of United
States Supreme Court Cases and
ABA Journal, the First Amendment Watch, and the Free Speech Center.
Review Quotes:
"It will help non-experts navigate safely amidst the passionate, thorny, and devilishly nuanced debates about its authority with regard to contemporary hot-button issues like gun control, freedom of choice, and the electoral college process. ... Constitution Explained merits an enthusiastic recommendation for collections curated for general readership, secondary school students, and college undergraduates." - Booklist
"The First, Second, and Fifth Amendments are often referred to, but--if social media is any indication--only vaguely understood by most of us. The rest of the Constitution fares mostly worse. To the rescue is this comprehensive, clear work by Hudson, who teaches First Amendment law at Belmont University's College of Law in Nashville. Beyond the Constitution itself, Hudson addresses related topics, such as methods of interpreting the Constitution, controversial Supreme Court picks, and the composition of the court."--Library Journal
"... an engaging layperson's primer on the Constitution's most important aspects--from the preamble to the Bill of Rights to the 14th Amendment. ... expert assessments of this country's foundational document and its effect on history as well as current events. ... breaking down what can be an intimidating document [to] help promote civic literacy at a time when an informed citizenry is as important as ever."--ABA Journal
"... the documents our forefathers signed on are everybody's mind in one way or another these days, "The Constitution Explained: A Guide for Every American" by David L. Hudson, Jr., J.D. is a book to keep handy this summer. In easy-to-understand terms, this book breaks down every one of the articles in the Constitution, with examples, relevant side-information, and explanations of the small details. It's a handy reference, but also just plain fun to read, too."--Bookworm Sez
"This guide explains the US Constitution to everyday Americans. After a brief history of its origins and background, the Constitutional Convention, and the ratification, chapters examine each article of the Constitution, its 27 amendments, and continuing constitutional controversies."--Book News
"Focusing on the Constitution's history, including the Articles of Confederation, the Philadelphia Convention, the Bill of Rights, and selected other amendments ... Most recent similar titles are limited to the full text of the founding documents ... will interest general readers as well as students of political science, government, and teacher education."--Library Journal