Constitutional Amendments: From Freedom of Speech to Prohibition

VOYA

As the supreme law of the land for the United States, the Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times since being adopted in 1788. How the Constitution originated as well as the history of both the successful and unsuccessful attempts to amend it reflect the evolutionary nature of U.S. culture and the changing face of American politics. Each of the six thousand-word chapters focuses on one specific amendment and includes the origin of the amendment, how it was drafted and ratified, and its subsequent effect on American society. Significant legal cases relative to the amendment are presented in chronological order. Additional features include a "Words to Know" section that defines terms that might be unfamiliar to students and a research and activity ideas section. The third volume includes coverage of unratified amendments. This three-volume set is appropriate for the middle school and junior high school grades. They clearly are textbook titles and, as such, would be read only within the context of a specific class. A substantive drawback is the lack of a comprehensive index. Although the information covers events into the late 1990s, including a brief discussion of the Communications Decency Act, the index does not contain an entry for either the American Civil Liberties Union or the American Library Association, both of which were primary litigants in this landmark case—a significant oversight when discussing the Constitution. Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Source Notes. Further Reading. 2001, UXL, 528p. in 3 vols. PLB $130/set. Ages 11 to Adult. Reviewer:Cindy Lombardo—VOYA, December 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 5)