NCW Libraries

A humorously illustrated preamble to the Constitution of the United States.

“Originalism Is Not Enough” In this profoundly important reassessment of constitutional interpretation, the eminent legal philosopher Hadley Arkes argues that "originalism" alone is an inadequate answer to judicial activism. Untethered from "mere Natural Law"-the moral principles knowable by all-our legal and constitutional system is doomed to incoherence. The framers of the Constitution regarded the "self-evident" truths of the Natural Law as...

"From Illinois to Alabama, and from Florida to Utah, our laws and legal debates arise from distinctive local settings within our vast and varied nation. As the renowned scholar Akhil Amar explains, Abraham Lincoln's argument against the legality of succession can be traced to his Midwestern upbringing, just as a close look at the Florida legislature and state Supreme Court reveals the fundamental wrongness of the Bush v. Gore decision. Amar profiles...

A retired Supreme Court Justice describes how the U.S. Constitution needs to be amended, detailing six specific changes that will protect democracy and ensure the safety and well-being of all American citizens.

"The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically chronicles his hilarious adventures in attempting to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, as he searches for answers to one of the most pressing issues of our time: How should we interpret America's foundational document?" -- Provided by publisher.

"Constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar tells the story of America's constitutional conversation during its first eighty years--from the Constitution's birth in 1760 through the 1830s, when the last of America's early leaders died. Amar traces the threads of Constitutional discourse, uniting history and law in a narrative that seeks both to reveal this history anew and to make clear who was right and who was wrong on the biggest legal issues confronting...

Senator Cruz argues that the high court decisions that affect your life have been decided by just one vote. Case studies illustrate his point that one vote preserves your right to speak freely, to bear arms, and to exercise your faith. "In One vote away, you will discover how often the high court decisions that affect your life have been decided by just one vote. One vote preserves your right to speak freely, to bear arms, and to exercise your faith....

"The U.S. Supreme Court has eliminated the right to abortion and is revisiting other fundamental questions today--about voting rights, affirmative action, gun laws, and much more. Once-arcane theories of constitutional interpretation are profoundly affecting the lives of all Americans. In this brief and urgent book, Harvard Law School professor Cass Sunstein provides a lively introduction to competing approaches to interpreting the Constitution--and...