| The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution Contributor(s): Gutzman, Kevin R. C. (Author), Weiner, Tom (Read by) |
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ISBN: 0786157836 ISBN-13: 9780786157839 Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks OUR PRICE: $17.96 Product Type: Compact Disc - Other Formats Published: June 2007 Annotation: Federal courts decide the most significant social and political questions in the United States. While the government claims to be a representative republic marked by federalism and separation of powers, somehow hot-button topics such as gay marriage, capital punishment, abortion, prayer in schools, and even the allocation of Floridas presidential electors always seem to be decided by unelected judges. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Constitutions - Law | Constitutional - Political Science | American Government - General |
| Dewey: 342.730 |
| Series: Politically Incorrect Guides (Audio) |
| Physical Information: 0.69" H x 5.33" W x 6.31" (0.37 lbs) |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: While the government claims to be a representative republic, somehow hot-button topics from gay marriage to the allocation of Florida's presidential electors always seem to be decided by unelected judges. What gives them the right to decide such issues? The judges say it's the Constitution. Author and law professor Kevin Gutzman shows that there is very little relationship between the Constitution ratified by the thirteen states more than two centuries ago and the "constitutional law" imposed upon us since then. Instead of the intended system of state-level decision makers and elected officials, judges have given us a centralized system in which bureaucrats and appointed officials make most of the important policies. The Constitution guarantees our rights and freedoms, but activist judges are threatening those very rights because of the Supreme Court's willingness to substitute its own opinions for the perfectly constitutional laws enacted by "we, the people" through our elected representatives. As Professor Gutzman shows, constitutional law is supposed to apply the Constitution's plain meaning to prevent judges, presidents, and congresses from overstepping their authority. If we want to return to the Founding Fathers' vision of the Republic, if we want the Constitution enforced in the way it was explained to the people at the time of its ratification, then we have to overcome the "received wisdom" about what constitutional law is. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution is an important step in that direction. |
Contributor Bio(s): Weiner, Tom: - Tom Weiner, a dialogue director and voice artist best known for his roles in video games and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Transformers, is an Earphones Award winner and Audie Award finalist. He is a former member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Gutzman, Kevin R. C.: -Kevin R. C. Gutzman, JD, PhD, received his master's degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, his JD from the University of Texas School of Law, and his MA and PhD in American history from the University of Virginia. He has published articles in such journals as the Journal of Southern History, the Journal of the Early Republic, and the Review of Politics, as well as over fifty encyclopedia articles and numerous essays in popular publications. He lives in Bethel, Connecticut. |