Overview
There has rarely been a more appropriate time for a book tracing the history and contemporary interpretation of the ten articles comprising the Bill of Rights. While various citizens' groups claim individual Articles in support of their positions, very few of us are sufficiently versed in either the framers' intentions or the Article's subsequent history and interpretation to argue either for or against them knowledgeably. Gun possession, freedom of speech, religious freedom, executive power, government surveillance - what exactly was the intent of the framers? What are the arguments surrounding them today? How did we get from that original intent to where we are now? This lively history of the Bill of Rights traces the origin of the first ten Amendments over the span of nearly a thousand years; starting with the philosophical and religious understanding informing them, moving through their creation and meaning for the framers, and leading to their interpretation and disputation today. On the journey there are illuminating and entertaining diversions into the history of literature, religion, film, sports and popular culture. A tour de force of legal scholarship, historical perspective, and cultural allusion, this book belongs on the bookshelf of every citizen, history buff, and lawyer as well as the high school civics student.
Full Product Details
Author: Robert McWhirter
Publisher: Constitution Press
Imprint: Constitution Press
Dimensions:
Width: 17.80cm
, Height: 5.40cm
, Length: 25.40cm
Weight: 1.338kg
ISBN: 9781945682001
ISBN 10: 1945682000
Pages: 560
Publication Date: 07 August 2015
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
[C]omprehensive and yes, sometimes humorous guide to the Bill of Rights. ...The author expertly engages the reader with illustrations, photos and factoids. Each page contains nuggets of information that range from Antiquity to Pop Culture, giving foundation and relevance to each constitutional amendment. - --Ralph Beltrone Amazon.com [A] fine study in American legal history and an excellent contribution to our understanding of the origins and historical setting of the Bill of Rights. ...For anyone interested in American legal history, Bills, Quills, and Stills is encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past. - --Hon. George T. Anagnost Arizona Attorney magazine
[A] fine study in American legal history and an excellent contribution to our understanding of the origins and historical setting of the Bill of Rights. ...For anyone interested in American legal history, Bills, Quills, and Stills is encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past. - --Hon. George T. Anagnost Arizona Attorney magazine
Author Information
Robert McWhirter is an acknowledged authority on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on which he has written and lectured widely both to academic and legal audiences as well as civic institutions. His earlier work was published by the American Bar Association. He appears regularly on Arizona Public Television's Horizon program explaining the legality and history surrounding the challenges to, and interpretation of, the Constitution. Robert also specializes in criminal law on which he has published widely. He presently practices as a criminal defense lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona.
