Customer Reviews

The Constitution of the United States: An Introduction, Revised and Updated Edition (Mentor)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Buy it only if the price is 50% off. That's because the first half of the work is a poorly written interpretation of our nation's most sacred document. Thankfully, the actual Constitution is provided in the second half. In the first 60 pages, the left-leaning declarations are so bizarre, it is hard to consider this book a serious work.

Mr. Cullop claims that the 16th Amendment allows for economic redistribution through Federal income tax, "The higher the earnings, the higher the percentage collected from them." This concept comes from the author, not the 16th Amendment.

Cullop also settles the controversial 2nd Amendment by declaring that the people have gun rights only as they apply to the militia. He repeats this interpretation at least two times in the test portions of the book without offering any dissent. Interestingly, the author's aversion to gun rights collides with his need to define all but basic words: "...may keep and bear (own) arms (weapons)." Hopefully, most readers know that "bear" in fact means to carry, not own.

The parenthetical definitions of even the most simple terms are so frequent that the book is often difficult to read: "Congress has the power to enforce this article by appropriate (necessary) legislation (laws)." Most readers aside from small children can probably do without "tyranny" being defined as "unusually harsh rule."

Mr. Cullop either lacks understanding of the basic concepts of the Constitution, or he makes very unfortunate choices in language: "Q: Have women always had the right to vote in the United States? A. No, they were GIVEN THIS RIGHT [emphasis added] by Amendment 19 in 1920."

If this irresponsible analysis of the US Constitution was written for children, it should be marketed as such. And if so, impressionable young readers should be especially discouraged from reading it.

I know this is intended to be very simple, but the commentary is just too simple. It asks questions or states facts that are nearly identical to what the actual text of the constitution reads. This would be a good book for kids, and it is still a good buy if you just want to have a hard copy of the constitution on hand. But in general, I don't think the commentary added anything to the original text.

A very simple edition, it was exactly what I wanted and needed to take a first look at the USA Constitution, cost-effective.

I was less than impressed with this "analysis" of our Constitution. This guy was a junior high school teacher and he must have started the "dumbing down" of our American society. The Only reason why I bought the book was it was required reading for a teacher test that is given by a government school system and I need to take the test for a credential. At least it has a copy of the actual document in the back half of the book.
My "Revised and Updated Edition" was last revised two presidential terms ago and we have raised salaries for the states government jobs and the new Cabinet position of Secretary for Homeland Security are not in the book. The latter has somewhat "juggled" the succession for president and that should be noted as well.
My suggestion...skip this book unless required by a class and even then, suggest a different title.

This is a nuts and bolts introductory book on the Constitution. It definately dosn't analyze anything to any degree whatsoever, but if your looking for that there are plenty of other books to consider. This is one to start with.

I liken it to a foreign language text where you get A LOT of instantaneous feedback in the manner of quizes and fill in the blank questions. Thats the best part of the book. It somewhat forces you to remember (at least once) the prime points by asking you about what youve just read.

This booklet helps explain our founding documents. Everyone in the US should read it.

"The Constitution of the United States: An Introduction" by Floyd C. Cullop is not a complicated study of the United States Constitution. Instead, it is very simply written - definitely not for Ivy League students. The grammar is not very good, comma usage is excessive, and passive voice is very common.

All that said, however, I thought it was very understandable and informative for the $3.35 I paid. While I have read much more complicated Constitutional books, this book seems nearly perfect for a high school student who begins his or her study knowing very little about the Constitution.

It is true that a progressive-minded person wrote the book. (Rush Limbaugh would disagree politically.) However, I did not find the work too biased to the left. (Most interpretative works are not truly objective).

The blanks (for fill in) and the questions at the end were also informative, albeit elementary. Yet, they made the reader actively participate rather than just read.

Conclusion:
I recommend this book for someone who knows little about the U.S. Constitution and wants to learn more yet does not have the money to purchase an expensive DVD series, take a college class, or purchase a comprehensive college textbook.

Want to know about your rights as a US citizen? Read this book! The condition was great and I was impressed with the speed in which I received it.

Product was received in new condition with no damages. Product was delivered in the appropriate time.

About a year ago, I saw a movie called The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. The movie is about President Chavez in Venezuela and the failed coup attempt on his presidency. In the background coverage of his presidency, the filmmakers recounted how as President, he encouraged his citizens to read their brand new constitution and learn it. They interviewed some Venezuelans who did not know to read, but had learned to read by reading their constitution.

I was touched by this, but then I thought "how many Americans can say they've read the Constitution?" My guess is probably not many. And those that have only did it for school and have since forgotten much of what they learned. Personally, I remember having to memorize the Bill of Rights for a class, but that's about it.

So I bought a copy of the Constitution for myself and began reading it.

In a time when Congress is passing legislation that infringes upon the rights guaranteed us by our Constitution, it's important now more than ever that we read and understand it.