Customer Reviews

The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States

5 star:		(77)
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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have always been looking for a reference copy of the U.S. Consitution to carry with me. For me this volume is that reference. This volume is compact, well laid out, and contains no unwanted extraneous materials.

These founding documents are like the Bible . . .often quoted, seldom read. In fact it is worse, since they are seldom read, when people quote-unquote "quote" them, they are actually spouting nonsense, as opposed to the political wisdom of the ages.

It is... imperative, therefore, that we should become familiar with these two philosophical pillars of political freedom. This book puts these heavenly banners and glorious standards into your hand-the truth is at your fingertips--to check up on the politicians. If they do anything crooked, keep in mind that it is our fault for not being aware and active in stopping them.

Don't be intimidated by the language. There is an old saying that Plato is easier to understand the Platonists. The original documents are easier to understand than the snake twisting that many lawyers and fanatics put to the documents. You asre smart enough to decide for yourself.

This is the American vision of what government should be. Many people think that America is a democracy but it is actually a constitutional democracy. The Constitution of the United States sets limits to the powers of government in Article 1, Section 8 (pgs 23-5). Outside of these enumerated powers the government has no authority to do anything else.

It really is a beautiful system of government. All law-making powers are vested in the Senate and House of Representatives. However, a president can check their power by vetoing any laws they pass, which they can then override by a 2/3 majority in both houses. The president's function is to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" and to the the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States. The Supreme Court and other courts oversee the laws passed by the legislature and, I suppose, the actions of the president to make sure that they fall within the bounds set by the Constitution. Congress has the ability to add to the Constitution by passing amendments. And the Bill of Rights lays out a few rights of the people and states that are absolutely not to be infringed upon, though the enumerated powers already limits the power granted to the federal government.

Roger Pilon's brief Preface is about as much bang for the word as one could ask for. Check it out!

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States is a great pocket reference source. I would recommend looking into "The Heritage Guide to the Constitution" as a partner to this book. "The Dec of Ind and the Con of the US" offers up no explaination of the Articles or of the Bill of Rights and Ammendments. This is why I would also recommend getting the Heritage Guide for a great explaination of everything. This pocket sized guide book is a great reference source for those of you who like to argue the Constitution around the dinner table. Just whip this little book out and you'll have the complete version of our Fore Fathers documents that created this great country right at your fingertips.

Very well organized book. Active table of contents has links to all articles and amendments. The book also has historical information and interpretation of each article.

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.

This pocket constitution published by CATO institute is the best I have seen so far. The size is almost the same as a passport and the whole constitution, declaration of independence, amendments including bill of rights etc have been beautifully printed.

Cato institute Fellow Roger Pilon has given an introduction which is unnecessary but not too intrusive and hasn't really inserted his own thinking so this copy is well worth keeping.

The constitution is the supreme law of the land and I highly recommend every patriotic American to own this pocket version.

You can keep it with you while traveling and flying and it can be a great way to start an interesting conversation, especially in these alarming and tumultuous times.

This pocket constitution can be used to rally the people, hold conversations, defend the law of the land against thought police, tax monsters, war mongers and government tyrants.

Other options on Amazon are too bulky with useless commentaries and misinformation so owning this copy makes perfect sense.

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

& THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

This is probably the best-liked of all the pocket Constitutions out there due to its compact size and nice-looking appearance. It's height and width are roughly akin to a man's wallet, making it easy to carry and

The book begins with a preface by Roger Pilon of the CATO Institute. Pilon recommends that Americans should use the Declaration of Independence to provide a context for the more specific language in the Constitution. He points out that the Founders believed that our rights are inalienable and come from the principles of natural law. Our rights do not come from the government, and the government exists to protect our rights and defend the country. The Founders developed the system of enumerated powers so that no segment of government would hold too much power.

Included are the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and a list of amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights (the first 10 Constitutional amendments).

This is the same version of the Constitution that Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) pulled out of his pocket during the MSNBC debates and on the Colbert Report television show. It is also the same one that Republican B.J. Lawson (called "Ron Paul Jr.") held up during the GOP primary race in North Carolina (he later won the nomination). Here's to any elected official who has read and understands the founding documents of this great country!

"Government officials must respect their oaths to

uphold the Constitution; and we the people must

be vigilant in seeing that they do. The Founders

drafted an extraordinarily thoughtful plan of

government, but it is up to us, to each generation,

to preserve and protect it for ourselves and for

future generations. For the Constitution will live

only if it is alive in the hearts of the American people."

~Roger Pilon, pg. 7

The Cato Institute--a libertarian think-tank in Washington, D.C.--deserves great praise for producing this handy, inexpensive, and durable pocket-sized edition of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Dismayingly few people know the contents of these documents, and those who want to know typically ask for a book to read about them. However, it is far better--and takes less time--to read the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution than to read about them.

The great U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black used to carry a copy of the Constitution everywhere with him in his coat pocket. Thanks to the Cato Institute, everyone else can do the same.

I read through this handy little book in one session and have used it as a reference on several occasions since. It's nice to quickly read the articles and amendments when I hear them referenced in the news or in conversation.

The thing I have enjoyed most about this is that by reading it I have corrected some of my misconceptions and re-learned a lot of what has faded out of my memory since I took American History over 20 years ago.