Rewriting the United States Constitution

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Rewriting the United States Constitution An Examination of Proposals from Reconstruction to the Present

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John R. Vile

Book Code: C3842

ISBN: 0-275-93842-5

ISBN-13: 978-0-275-93842-0

DOI:

216 pages

Praeger Publishers

Publication: 5/30/1991

List Price: $106.95 (UK Sterling Price: £59.95)

Availability: Out of stock

Media Type: Hardcover

Trim Size: 6 1/8 x 9 1/4

Subjects:

Reviews:

Vile has been a scholar of the constitutional amending process for over a decade and has published extensively in the field of public law. He thus is well prepared to write this volume. Basically, Vile focuses on the process for formally amending the US constitution, including the history of the amending mechanism. The remainder of the book approaches the process from a historical perspective, beginning with the post-Civil War Reconstruction period and continuing until modern times. The author focuses not only on the various proposed amendments but also on some of the key personalities that have been involved in these attempts. The material is very well documented with ample footnotes, and the bibliography is very strong. The approach is objective and straightforward and Vile does not appear to have any ideological ax to grind. . . . Upper-division undergraduates and above.
—Choice

Description: Since the Reconstruction period, there have been over forty proposals to rewrite the U.S. Constitution. John Vile's unique historical study analyzes all of these proposals within the framework of the constitutional amending process. In each case Vile examines the substance of the proposal, its goals and methods, the response to the proposal, and its overall influence--concluding that the Constitution in its current form faces no immediate threats. He finds no convincing cases for a new Constitution and believes that most perceived defects can be remedied with less drastic measures. The study illuminates issues of constitutional change, stressing the importance of understanding alternative forms of government and the basis for their support. While immediate change is not likely, constitutional change will ultimately come, and when it does, earlier criticisms and suggestions may help to set the agenda. Proposals for change are critiques which help to identify strengths and weaknesses in the current system. In addition, examinations of past proposals reveal how people view the Constitution during crises. This work will be particularly useful for political scientists, historians, lawyers, and individuals interested in, or involved with, efforts for constitutional change.

Table of Contents:

Preface
Effecting Constitutional Change in the United States
From Reconstruction to the Turn of the Century
Proposals Occasioned by Progressivism and War
Proposals from the Great Depression and the Sesquicentennial of the Constitution
Proposals from World War II
Proposals from the Turbulent 1960s and early 1970s
Reassessing the Constitution and the Presidency after Watergate
Proposals from the Bicentennials and Their Critiques
More Proposals from the Bicentennial to the Present
Analysis and Conclusions
Appendix
Bibliography
Index

LC Card Number: 90-20854

LCC Class: KF4541

Dewey Class: 342.73


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