Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We the People Can Correct It)Oxford University Press, 2006 M09 28 - 272 páginas Levinson argues that too many of our Constitution's provisions promote either unjust or ineffective government. Under the existing blueprint, we can neither rid ourselves of incompetent presidents nor assure continuity of government following catastrophic attacks. Less important, perhaps, but certainly problematic, is the appointment of Supreme Court judges for life. Adding insult to injury, the United States Constitution is the most difficult to amend or update of any constitution currently existing in the world today. Democratic debate leaves few stones unturned, but we tend to take our basic constitutional structures for granted. Levinson boldly challenges the American people to undertake a long overdue public discussion on how they might best reform this most hallowed document and construct a constitution adequate to our democratic values. "Admirably gutsy and unfashionable." --Michael Kinsley, The New York Times "Bold, bracingly unromantic, and filled with illuminating insights. He accomplishes an unlikely feat, which is to make a really serious argument for a new constitutional convention, one that is founded squarely on democratic ideals." --Cass R. Sunstein, The New Republic "Everyone who cares about how our government works should read this thoughtful book." --Washington Lawyer |
Dentro del libro
Resultados 1-5 de 39
Página ix
... require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors. . . . Let us, as our sister States have done, avail ourselves of our reason and ...
... require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors. . . . Let us, as our sister States have done, avail ourselves of our reason and ...
Página 14
... require on occasion certain incursions into the “Blessings of Liberty.” One need only refer to the military draft, which was upheld in 1918 by the Supreme Court against an attack claiming that it constituted the “involuntary 14 OUR ...
... require on occasion certain incursions into the “Blessings of Liberty.” One need only refer to the military draft, which was upheld in 1918 by the Supreme Court against an attack claiming that it constituted the “involuntary 14 OUR ...
Página 15
... requires no denigration of the founders. They were, with some inevitable exceptions, an extraordinary group of men who performed extraordinary deeds, including drafting a Constitution that started a brand-new governmental system. By and ...
... requires no denigration of the founders. They were, with some inevitable exceptions, an extraordinary group of men who performed extraordinary deeds, including drafting a Constitution that started a brand-new governmental system. By and ...
Página 21
... requires the approval of two-thirds of each of the two houses of our national Congress, followed by the approval of three-quarters of the states (which today means thirty-eight of the fifty states). Article V does allow the abstract ...
... requires the approval of two-thirds of each of the two houses of our national Congress, followed by the approval of three-quarters of the states (which today means thirty-eight of the fifty states). Article V does allow the abstract ...
Página 22
... requires that two-thirds of the Senate assent to any treaty, has been transformed through the use of “executive agreements.” Although such agreements are unmentioned in the text of the Constitution, presidents have frequently avoided ...
... requires that two-thirds of the Senate assent to any treaty, has been transformed through the use of “executive agreements.” Although such agreements are unmentioned in the text of the Constitution, presidents have frequently avoided ...
Contenido
3 | |
11 | |
25 | |
TooPowerful Presidents Chosen in an Indefensible Process Who Cannot Be Displaced Even When They Are Manifestly Incompetent | 79 |
An Idea Whose Time Has Passed | 123 |
5 The Constitution as Creator of SecondClass Citizens | 141 |
6 The Impermeable Article V | 159 |
What Is to Be Done? | 167 |
The Wisdom of Woodrow Wilson | 181 |
The Constitution of the United States | 183 |
AFTERWORD FOR THE PAPERBACK EDITION | 201 |
NOTES | 217 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS | 239 |
INDEX | 243 |
Otras ediciones - Ver todas
Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (and how We ... Sanford Levinson Vista previa limitada - 2008 |
Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We ... Sanford Levinson Vista previa limitada - 2006 |
Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We ... Sanford Levinson Vista previa limitada - 2006 |
Términos y frases comunes
Akhil Reed Amar Al Gore American politics appointed argue arguments Article ballot basic believe bicameralism Bill Bill Clinton Bruce Ackerman Bush Bush’s campaign candidates citizens clause Clinton congressional consider Consti decision defend democracy democratic dent effect elec election Electoral College electoral votes equal example executive federal Federalist framers George George H. W. Bush House of Representatives impeachment important inasmuch institutions issues Jack Balkin James Madison Jefferson John judges judiciary leaders least legislation legislatures majoritarian majority ment Nixon number of votes obviously one’s percent perhaps person political system popular vote population Preamble present presidential power problem proposed ratified reason referendum regard Republican requires Richard Nixon rule Sanford Levinson serve Seventeenth Amendment simply small-state senators stitution suggested Sundquist supra note surely tenure term tion tution two-thirds U.S. Constitution United University Press veto power Vice President voters White House whole number Yale