America's unwritten constitution
Subtitle: the precedents and principles we live by
By: Akhil Reed Amar
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 615
ISBN-13: 9780465029570
Subjects: Constitutional history; Constitutional law
Description: This work explores the little-understood relationship between the written Constitution and the many external factors that shape the interpretations of this foundational document. Despite its venerated place atop American law and politics, our written Constitution does not enumerate all of the rules and rights, principles and procedures that actually govern modern America. The document makes no explicit mention of cherished concepts like the separation of powers and the rule of law. On some issues, the plain meaning of the text misleads. For example, the text seems to say that the vice president presides over his own impeachment trial, but surely this cannot be right. As the author, a legal scholar explains, the solution to many constitutional puzzles lies not solely within the written document, but beyond it, in the vast trove of values, precedents, and practices that complement and complete the terse text.^

In this sequel to America's Constitution: A Biography, the author takes readers on a tour of our nation's unwritten Constitution, showing how America's foundational document cannot be understood in textual isolation. Proper constitutional interpretation depends on a variety of factors, such as the precedents set by early presidents and Congresses; common practices of modern American citizens; venerable judicial decisions; and particularly privileged sources of inspiration and guidance, including the Federalist papers, William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. These diverse supplements are indispensible instruments for making sense of the written Constitution. When used correctly, these extra-textual aids support and enrich the written document without supplanting it.^

This work presents a new vision of the American constitutional system, showing how the complementary relationship between the Constitution's written and unwritten components is one of America's greatest and most enduring strengths.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Reading between the lines : America's implicit constitution; title: Heeding the deed : America's enacted constitution; title: Hearing the people : America's lived constitution; title: Confronting modern case law : America's "warrented" constitution; title: Putting precedent in its place : America's doctrinal constitution; title: Honoring the icons : America's symbolic constitution; title: "Remembering the ladies" : America's feminist constitution; title: Following Aashington's lead : America's "Georgian" constitution; title: Interpreting government practices : America's institutional constitution; title: Joining the party : America's partisan constitution; title: Doing the right thing : America's conscientious constitution; title: Envisioning the future: America's unfinished constitution.