Constitution Day: Library Books on Constitutional Issues

This guide will address the origins and history of our government's foundational document, with its amendments. A variety of issues are discussed, from the process of writing and adoption, to current interpretations of the Constitution.

Books on Constitutional Issues in the Monroe University Libraries

Physical books may be located at either the Bronx or New Rochelle campus. E-books can be accessed from anywhere.

Constitutional Books in the Monroe University Libraries

The Constitution of the United States with index and the Declaration of Independence / by United States The Constitution of the United States, with Index, and The Declaration of Independence: Pocket Edition This Constitution was proofed word for word against the original Constitution housed in the Archives in Washington, D.C. It is identical in spelling, capitalization and punctuation. It is sized in accordance with one produced by President Thomas Jefferson and includes the Bill of Rights, Amendments 11 through 27, The Declaration of Independence and a complete index of the Constitution.
Call Number: KF 4525 .A1 2023 (BX & NR)
ISBN: 9780880801447
The U. S. Constitution and Fascinating Facts about It / by Terry L. Jordan In The U.S. Constitution & Fascinating Facts About It youll see the entire text of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence -- and much more Youll find interesting insights into the men who wrote the Constitution, how it was created, and how the Supreme Court has interpreted the Constitution in the two centuries since its creation.
Call Number: KF 4541 .A2 U552 2020 (BX)
ISBN: 9781891743153
How to Read the Constitution--And Why / by Kim Wehle "A must-read for this era."--Jake Tapper, CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent  An insightful, urgent, and perennially relevant handbook that lays out in common sense language how the United States Constitution works, and how its protections are eroding before our eyes--essential reading for anyone who wants to understand and parse the constantly breaking news about the backbone of American government. The Constitution is the most significant document in America. But do you fully understand what this valuable document means to you In How to Read the Constitution--and Why, legal expert and educator Kimberly Wehle spells out in clear, simple, and common sense terms what is in the Constitution, and most importantly, what it means. In compelling terms and including text from the United States Constitution, she describes how the Constitution's protections are eroding--not only in express terms but by virtue of the many legal and social norms that no longer shore up its legitimacy--and why every American needs to heed to this "red flag" moment in our democracy. This invaluable--and timely--resource includes the Constitution in its entirety and covers nearly every significant aspect of the text,  from the powers of the President and how the three branches of government are designed to hold each other accountable, to what it means to have individual rights--including free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the right to an abortion. Finally, the book explains why it has never been more important than now for all Americans to know how our Constitution works--and why, if we don't step in to protect it now, we could lose its protections forever. How to Read the Constitution--and Why is essential reading for anyone who cares about maintaining an accountable government and the individual freedoms that the Constitution enshrines for everyone in America--regardless of political party.
Call Number: KF 4541 .W44 2019 (NR)
ISBN: 9780062896308
The Law of the Land : : a grand tour of our constitutional republic / by Akhil Reed Amar From Kennebunkport to Kauai, from the Rio Grande to the Northern Rockies, ours is a vast republic. While we may be united under one Constitution, separate and distinct states remain, each with its own constitution and culture. Geographic idiosyncrasies add more than just local character. Regional understandings of law and justice have shaped and reshaped our nation throughout history. America's Constitution, our founding and unifying document, looks slightly different in California than it does in Kansas. In The Law of the Land, renowned legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar illustrates how geography, federalism, and regionalism have influenced some of the biggest questions in American constitutional law. Writing about Illinois, "the land of Lincoln," Amar shows how our sixteenth president's ideas about secession were influenced by his Midwestern upbringing and outlook. All of today's Supreme Court justices, Amar notes, learned their law in the Northeast, and New Yorkers of various sorts dominate the judiciary as never before. The curious Bush v. Gore decision, Amar insists, must be assessed with careful attention to Florida law and the Florida Constitution. The second amendment appears in a particularly interesting light, he argues, when viewed from the perspective of Rocky Mountain cowboys and cowgirls. Propelled by Amar's distinctively smart, lucid, and engaging prose, these essays allow general readers to see the historical roots of, and contemporary solutions to, many important constitutional questions. The Law of the Land illuminates our nation's history and politics, and shows how America's various local parts fit together to form a grand federal framework.
Call Number: KF4530 .A43 2015 (NR)
ISBN: 9780465065905
The Know Your Bill of Rights Book / by Michael Matthews
Call Number: KF 4749 .P38 2013 (NR)
ISBN: 9781938895227
Constitutional Law - National Power and Federalism by Christopher N. May; Christopher N. Ides Constitutional Law: National Power and Federalism features straightforward and informal text that is never simplistic. Its unique, time-tested "Examples and Explanations" pedagogy combines textual material with well-written and comprehensive examples, explanations, and questions to test students' comprehension and provide practice in applying information to fact patterns. The questions (in which there are often a variety of issues in play) are similar to those on a law school or bar examination. A problem-oriented guide takes students through the principal doctrines of constitutional law that are covered in a typical course. Constitutional Law: National Power and Federalism is designed to help students think about the larger issues of constitutional law with both depth and perception. Part of a two-volume set (with a corresponding text on Individual Rights,) these books compose a foundation in the doctrines and methods of constitutional law and constitutional argument. The organization parallels and complements any major constitutional law casebook. Legal concepts and principles appear in easily-digestible sections, followed by examples and analysis that illustrate how to apply them in hypothetical situations. That comes from the strong authorship, as these authors have more than sixty years combined experience teaching Constitutional Law. The Sixth Edition features updated examples and explanations and incorporates recent important decisions from the Supreme Court's October 2009, 2010 and 2011 terms. They include Bond v. United States (2011) - individuals have standing to raise 10th Amendment challenges to federal laws under which they are being prosecuted, for principles of federalism are designed to protect individuals as well as states; Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn (2011) - state taxpayers lacked standing under Flast v. Cohen to challenge a state law that provides tax credits for contributions made to organizations that then use those funds to subsidize religious education; Camreta v. Greene (2011) - an Article III case or controversy still exists where a government worker who prevailed in a § 1983 action based on qualified immunity wishes to appeal the lower court's ruling that plaintiff's constitutional rights were violated, if the worker is in a position where he would otherwise be subject to the lower court's ruling; Ashcroft v. al-Kidd (2011) - qualified immunity shielded former U.S. Attorney General from damages in a Bivens action where the constitutional principles governing the detention of terrorists were not clearly established at the time he acted, regardless of his personal motives; Reichle v. Howards (Oct. Term 2011, No. 11-262) - whether Secret Service agents have absolute or qualified immunity from a 1st Amendment retaliatory arrest claim brought by a person who made unsolicited physical contact with Vice President Cheney; Los Angeles County v. Humphries (2010) - in a § 1983 action against a municipality, the same custom or policy requirements that apply in suits seeking damages likewise apply in suits for prospective injunctive relief; Connick v. Thompson (2011) - a municipality may be sued under § 1983 based on its alleged failure to train its employees only where it is shown the municipality acted with deliberate indifference, usually requiring proof of similar past violations that it chose to ignore; Virginia Office For Pr
Call Number: KF4550 .M29 2013 (NR)
ISBN: 9781454805243
Constutional Amendments : an encyclopedia of the people, procedures, politics, primary documents, campaigns for the 27 Amendments to the Constitution of the United States / by Mark Grossman (General Editor) This thought-provoking and interesting text provides a complete examination of each of our nation's 27 Constitutional Amendments. From the prohibition of alcoholic beverages, to slavery, to the voting rights of women, this text illustrates how the US Constitution has changed since its ratification in 1789.
Call Number: KF 4557 .G76 2012 (NR - REF - 2 vols)
ISBN: 9781592379996
America's Unwritten Constitution : the precedents and principles we live by / by Akhil Reed Amar
Call Number: KF 4541 .A875 2012 (NR)
ISBN: 9780465029570
Essential Supreme Court Decisions : summaries of leading cases in U.S. constitutional law / by John R. Vile Revised and now in its 16th edition, Essential Supreme Court Decisions: Summaries of Leading Cases in U.S. Constitutional Law is the most up-to-date and historically thorough guide to the American Supreme Court's most monumental rulings available today. It proves an indispensable resource for students, lawyers, and anyone interested in our nation's Constitution, and the decisions that continue to shape, define, and challenge it. The Supreme Court grapples every day with issues fundamental to our democracy - from religious expression to freedom of speech to cruel and unusual punishment rulings. Terrorism, profiling, same-sex marriage, police stop-and-search statutes, voting rights and our personal right to privacy, and recent landmark rulings regarding all of these issues are analyzed in this edition, showing us the modern iterations of debates that have raged in some shape or form in America throughout its history.
Call Number: KF 4547.4 .V55 2010 (NR)
ISBN: 9781442225572
I Dissent : great opposing opinions in landmark Supreme Court cases by Mark Tushnet (Ed.) For the first time, a collection of dissents from the most famous Supreme Court cases If American history can truly be traced through the majority decisions in landmark Supreme Court cases, then what about the dissenting opinions? In issues of race, gender, privacy, workers' rights, and more, would advances have been impeded or failures rectified if the dissenting opinions were in fact the majority opinions? In offering thirteen famous dissents-from Marbury v. Madison and Brown v. Board of Education to Griswold v. Connecticut and Lawrence v. Texas, each edited with the judges' eloquence preserved-renowned Supreme Court scholar Mark Tushnet reminds us that court decisions are not pronouncements issued by the utterly objective, they are in fact political statements from highly intelligent but partisan people. Tushnet introduces readers to the very concept of dissent in the courts and then provides useful context for each case, filling in gaps in the Court's history and providing an overview of the issues at stake. After each case, he considers the impact the dissenting opinion would have had, if it had been the majority decision. Lively and accessible, I Dissent offers a radically fresh view of the judiciary in a collection that is essential reading for anyone interested in American history.
Call Number: KF 8742 .I35 2008 (NR)
ISBN: 9780807000366
America's Constitution : a biography / by Akhil Reed Amar InAmerica’s Constitution, one of this era’s most accomplished constitutional law scholars, Akhil Reed Amar, gives the first comprehensive account of one of the world’s great political texts. Incisive, entertaining, and occasionally controversial, this “biography” of America’s framing document explains not only what the Constitution says but also why the Constitution says it. We all know this much: the Constitution is neither immutable nor perfect. Amar shows us how the story of this one relatively compact document reflects the story of America more generally. (For example, much of the Constitution, including the glorious-sounding “We the People,” was lifted from existing American legal texts, including early state constitutions.) In short, the Constitution was as much a product of its environment as it was a product of its individual creators’ inspired genius. Despite the Constitution’s flaws, its role in guiding our republic has been nothing short of amazing. Skillfully placing the document in the context of late-eighteenth-century American politics, America’s Constitution explains, for instance, whether there is anything in the Constitution that is unamendab≤ the reason America adopted an electoral colle≥ why a president must be at least thirty-five years old; and why–for now, at least–only those citizens who were born under the American flag can become president. From his unique perspective, Amar also gives us unconventional wisdom about the Constitution and its significance throughout the nation’s history. For one thing, we see that the Constitution has been far more democratic than is conventionally understood. Even though the document was drafted by white landholders, a remarkably large number of citizens (by the standards of 1787) were allowed to vote up or down on it, and the document’s later amendments eventually extended the vote to virtually all Americans. We also learn that the Founders’ Constitution was far more slavocratic than many would acknowledge: the “three fifths” clause gave the South extra political clout for every slave it owned or acquired. As a result, slaveholding Virginians held the presidency all but four of the Republic’s first thirty-six years, and proslavery forces eventually came to dominate much of the federal government prior to Lincoln’s election. Ambitious, even-handed, eminently accessible, and often surprising,America’s Constitutionis an indispensable work, bound to become a standard reference for any student of history and all citizens of the United States.
Call Number: KF 4541 .A87 2005 (NR)
ISBN: 9781400062621

Books & E-Books on Constitutional Issues

The Fourth Amendment : Original Understandings and Modern Policing / by Michael J. Z. Mannheimer Police are required to obey the law. While that seems obvious, courts have lost track of that requirement due to misinterpreting the two constitutional provisions governing police conduct: the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Fourth Amendment forbids "unreasonable searches and seizures" and is the source of most constitutional constraints on policing. Although that provision technically applies only to the federal government, the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in the wake of the Civil War, has been deemed to apply the Fourth Amendment to the States. This book contends that the courts' misinterpretation of these provisions has led them to hold federal and state law enforcement mistakenly to the same constitutional standards. The Fourth Amendment was originally understood as a federalism, or "states' rights," provision that, in effect, required federal agents to adhere to state law when searching or seizing. Thus, applying the same constraint to the States is impossible. Instead, the Fourteenth Amendment was originally understood in part as requiring that state officials (1) adhere to state law, (2) not discriminate, and (3) not be granted excessive discretion by legislators. These principles should guide judicial review of modern policing. Instead, constitutional constraints on policing are too strict and too forgiving at the same time. In this book, Michael J.Z. Mannheimer calls for a reimagination of what modern policing could look like based on the original understandings of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Call Number: E-book
ISBN: 9780472056330
Publication Date: 2023
Baby Ninth Amendments : How Americans Embraced Unenumerated Rights and Why It Matters / by Anthony B. Sanders Listing every right that a constitution should protect is hard. American constitution drafters often list a few famous rights such as freedom of speech, protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, and free exercise of religion, plus a handful of others. However, we do not need to enumerate every liberty because there is another way to protect them: an "etcetera clause." It states that there are other rights beyond those specifically listed: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." Yet scholars are divided on whether the Ninth Amendment itself actually does protect unenumerated rights, and the Supreme Court has almost entirely ignored it. Regardless of what the Ninth Amendment means, two-thirds of state constitutions have equivalent provisions, or "Baby Ninth Amendments," worded similarly to the Ninth Amendment. This book is the story of how the "Baby Ninths" came to be and what they mean. Unlike the controversy surrounding the Ninth Amendment, the meaning of the Baby Ninths is straightforward: they protect individual rights that are not otherwise enumerated. They are an "etcetera, etcetera" at the end of a bill of rights. This book argues that state judges should do their duty and live up to their own constitutions to protect the rights "retained by the people" that these "etcetera clauses" are designed to guarantee. The fact that Americans have adopted these provisions so many times in so many states demonstrates that unenumerated rights are not only protected by state constitutions, but that they are popular. Unenumerated rights are not a weird exception to American constitutional law. They are at the center of it. We should start treating constitutions accordingly.
Call Number: E-book
ISBN: 9780472056156
Publication Date: 2023
In Defense of Free Speech in Universities : A Study of Three Jurisdictions / by Amy T. Y. Lai In this book, Amy Lai examines the current free speech crisis in Western universities. She studies the origin, history, and importance of freedom of speech in the university setting, and addresses the relevance and pitfalls of political correctness and microaggressions on campuses, where laws on harassment, discrimination, and hate speech are already in place, along with other concepts that have gained currency in the free speech debate, including deplatforming, trigger warning, and safe space. Looking at numerous free speech disputes in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, the book argues for the equal application of the free speech principle to all expressions to facilitate respectful debates. All in all, it affirms that the right to free expression is a natural right essential to the pursuit of truth, democratic governance, and self-development, and this right is nowhere more important than in the university.
Call Number: E-book
ISBN: 9780472056408
Publication Date: 2023
The Hidden History of Guns and the Second Amendment / by Thom Hartmann Taking his typically in-depth, historically informed view, Thom Hartmann examines how guns have played important roles throughout American history, from early European settlement to the Revolutionary War and Manifest Destiny, through the use of Slave Patrols in the Deep South (which became the "well-regulated militias" so debated in 1787), to the assassination of John F. Kennedy and recent school massacres. Looking at the present, Hartmann documents how inequality in America and the number of people killed in mass shootings have grown together over the last fifty years. Finally, he identifies a handful of common-sense and powerful solutions that would address the issue at different levels- from getting money out of politics to get the National Rifle Association out of lobbying, to passing laws that would treat gun ownership like car ownership (title, license, insurance), to addressing the social despair and economic inequality that drive violent crime and mass shootings.
Call Number: KF 3941 .H39 2019 (NR)
ISBN: 9781523085996
You Have the Right to Remain Innocent : what police officers tell their children about the Fifth Amendment / by James Duane An urgent, compact manifesto that will teach you how to protect your rights, your freedom, and your future when talking to police. Law professor James J. Duane became a viral sensation thanks to a 2008 lecture outlining the reasons why you should never agree to answer questions from the police--especially if you are innocent and wish to stay out of trouble with the law. In this timely, relevant, and pragmatic new book, he expands on that presentation, offering a vigorous defense of every citizen's constitutionally protected right to avoid self-incrimination. Getting a lawyer is not only the best policy, Professor Duane argues, it's also the advice law-enforcement professionals give their own kids. Using actual case histories of innocent men and women exonerated after decades in prison because of information they voluntarily gave to police, Professor Duane demonstrates the critical importance of a constitutional right not well or widely understood by the average American. Reflecting the most recent attitudes of the Supreme Court, Professor Duane argues that it is now even easier for police to use your own words against you. This lively and informative guide explains what everyone needs to know to protect themselves and those they love.
Call Number: KF 9668 .D82 2016 (NR)
ISBN: 9781503933392
The Constitution Today : timeless lessons for the issues of our era / by Akhil Reed Amar A leading legal scholar addresses the most important constitutional controversies of the past two decades and illuminates the Constitution's spirit and ongoing relevance America's Constitution, Chief Justice John Marshall famously observed in McCulloch v. Maryland, aspires "to endure for ages to come." The daily news has a shorter shelf life, and when the issues of the day involve momentous constitutional questions, present-minded journalists and busy citizens cannot always see the stakes clearly. In The Constitution Today, Akhil Reed Amar, America's preeminent constitutional scholar, considers the biggest and most bitterly contested debates of the last two decades and provides a passionate handbook for thinking constitutionally about today's headlines. Amar shows how the Constitution's text, history, and structure are a crucial repository of collective wisdom, providing specific rules and grand themes relevant to every organ of the American body politic. Prioritizing sound constitutional reasoning over partisan preferences, he makes the case for diversity-based affirmative action and a right to have a gun in one's home for self-protection, and against spending caps on independent political advertising and bans on same-sex marriage. He explains what's wrong with presidential dynasties, advocates a "nuclear option" to restore majority rule in the Senate, and suggests ways to reform the Supreme Court. And he revisits three dramatic constitutional conflicts -- the impeachment of Bill Clinton, the contested election of George W. Bush, and the fight over Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act -- to show what politicians, judges, and journalists got right as events unfolded and what they missed. Leading readers through the particular constitutional questions at stake in each episode while outlining his abiding views regarding the Constitution's letter, its spirit, and the direction constitutional law must go, Amar offers an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand America's Constitution and its relevance today.
Call Number: KF 4550 .A728 2016 (NR)
ISBN: 9780465096336
The Second Amendment : a biography / by Michael Waldman Widely acclaimed at the time of its publication, the life story of the most controversial, volatile, misunderstood provision of the Bill of Rights. At a time of increasing gun violence in America, Waldman's book provoked a wide range of discussion. This book looks at history to provide some surprising, illuminating answers. The Amendment was written to calm public fear that the new national government would crush the state militias made up of all (white) adult men--who were required to own a gun to serve. Waldman recounts the raucous public debate that has surrounded the amendment from its inception to the present. As the country spread to the Western frontier, violence spread too. But through it all, gun control was abundant. In the twentieth century, with Prohibition and gangsterism, the first federal control laws were passed. In all four separate times the Supreme Court ruled against a constitutional right to own a gun. The present debate picked up in the 1970s--part of a backlash to the liberal 1960s and a resurgence of libertarianism. A newly radicalized NRA entered the campaign to oppose gun control and elevate the status of an obscure constitutional provision. In 2008, in a case that reached the Court after a focused drive by conservative lawyers, the US Supreme Court ruled for the first time that the Constitution protects an individual right to gun ownership. Famous for his theory of "originalism," Justice Antonin Scalia twisted it in this instance to base his argument on contemporary conditions. In The Second Amendment: A Biography, Michael Waldman shows that our view of the amendment is set, at each stage, not by a pristine constitutional text, but by the push and pull, the rough and tumble of political advocacy and public agitation.
Call Number: KF 3941 .W35 2015 (BX) / KF 3941 .W35 2014 (NR)
ISBN: 9781476747453
Criminal Procedure, 2015 Case and Statutory Supplement by Erwin Chemerinsky; Laurie L. Levenson Criminal Procedure: 2015 Case and Statutory Supplement
Call Number: KF 9630 .C578 2015 (NR)
ISBN: 9781454859376
Abortion / by Barbara Wexler Offers explanations of how the US Supreme Court has dealt with the constitutional issues surrounding abortion, avoiding discussion of the merits of different policies, and considering the politics of abortion only when they have had some impact on the development of the Court's constitutional juris
Call Number: HQ 767.15 .A48 2014 (BX)
ISBN: 9781414481296
Victory : the triumphant gay revolution / by Linda Hirshman Supreme Court lawyer and political pundit Linda Hirshman details the stunning story of how a resourceful and dedicated minority transformed the notion of American marriage equality and forged a campaign for cultural change that will serve as a model for all future political movements. In the vein of Taylor Branch's classic Parting of the Waters, Hirshman's groundbreaking Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution is the powerful story of a massive shift in American culture. Hirshman offers an insider's view of the crucial struggle that is leading to change, incorporating her unique experiences and insights and drawing upon new interviews--with movement titans such as Frank Kameny and Phyllis Lyon, with next-generation activists such as Evan Wolfson of Freedom to Marry, and with allies including the likes of New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand--to create a comprehensive, inspiring history of change in our time.
Call Number: HQ 76.8 .U5 H57 2012 (NR)
ISBN: 9780061965500
Interstate Disputes : The Supreme Court's Original Jurisdiction / by Joseph F. Zimmerman With respect to "controversies between two or more states," the U.S. Constitution grants original jurisdiction to the U.S. Supreme Court, and in 1789 Congress made exclusive the Court's jurisdiction over interstate disputes. In this book, Joseph F. Zimmerman examines the role of the Supreme Court in settling disputes between states, the criteria developed by the Court to determine whether its original jurisdiction should be invoked, and the function of special masters, who, as adjuncts to the Court, facilitate negotiated settlements or provide the factual information needed by the Court to render sound decisions. Zimmerman analyzes a wide range of specific disputes, from boundary lines to financial matters to water allocation, diversion, and pollution. To alleviate the Court's exceptionally heavy and critically important appellate workload, the author proposes alternative mechanisms for resolving controversies between sister states, including interstate boundary compacts, interstate regulatory compacts, and several congressional initiatives.
Call Number: E-book
ISBN: 9780791468333
Publication Date: 2006
Interracial Justice : conflict and reconciliation in post-civil rights America / by Eric K. Yamamoto The United States in the twenty-first century will be a nation of so-called minorities. Shifts in the composition of the American populace necessitate a radical change in the ways we as a nation think about race relations, identity, and racial justice. Once dominated by black-white relations, discussions of race are increasingly informed by an awareness of strife among nonwhite racial groups. While white influence remains important in nonwhite racial conflict, the time has come for acknowledgment of ways communities of color sometimes clash, and their struggles to heal the resulting wounds and forge strong alliances. Melding race history, legal theory, theology, social psychology, and anecdotes, Eric K. Yamamoto offers a fresh look at race and responsibility. He tells tales of explosive conflicts and halting conciliatory efforts between African Americans and Korean and Vietnamese immigrant shop owners in Los Angeles and New Orleans. He also paints a fascinating picture of South Africa's controversial Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as a pathbreaking Asian American apology to Native Hawaiians for complicity in their oppression. An incisive and original work by a highly respected scholar, Interracial Justice greatly advances our understanding of conflict and healing through justice in multiracial America.
Call Number: E 184.A1 Y36 1999 (BX)
ISBN: 9780814796740

A Monroe University Research Guide

THIS RESEARCH OR "LIBGUIDE" WAS PRODUCED BY THE LIBRARIANS OF MONROE UNIVERSITY