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The Heritage Guide to the Constitution Hardcover – November 7, 2005
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This guide is the first of its kind, and presents the U.S. Constitution as never before, including a clause-by-clause analysis of the document, each amendment and relevant court case, and the documents that serve as the foundation of the Constitution.
- Print length475 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRegnery Publishing
- Publication dateNovember 7, 2005
- Dimensions7.5 x 1.25 x 10.25 inches
- ISBN-10159698001X
- ISBN-13978-1596980013
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From the Inside Flap
"The Constitution," pledged George Washington, "is the guide which I will never abandon." Can we say the same today?
With the leadership of former Attorney General Edwin Meese, and in conjunction with the nation’s preeminent think tankThe Heritage FoundationThe Heritage Guide to the Constitution brings together more than one hundred of the nation’s best legal experts to provide the first ever line-by-line examination of the of the complete Constitution and its contemporary meaning.
Stressing the original intent of the Framers as the authoritative standard of constitutional interpretation, and never straying from the Constitution and the definitive writings of the Framersespecially the invaluable notes taken at the Constitutional Convention by James Madison, the widely recognized analysis in The Federalist Papers, and Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story’s 1833 classic Commentaries on the Constitution of the United Statesthis volume is unique, comprehensive, and authoritative.
Edited by David Forte and Matthew Spalding, The Heritage Guide to the Constitution is written not only to provide lawmakers and trained jurists with a reliable reference, but also to be explanatory, educational, and accessible to informed citizens and all students of the Constitution.
No document is more central or more important to securing "the Blessing of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" than the United States Constitution, and no guide to the Constitution is more thorough, more enlightening, or more useful than The Heritage Guide to the Constitution.
About the Author
Executive Editor Dr. Matthew Spalding is an expert in and teaches constitutional history, is an Adjunct Fellow of the Claremont Institute, and is the Director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at the Heritage Foundation.
Senior Editor Dr. David F. Forte is a widely published legal scholar, a former Chief Counsel to the United States Delegation to the United Nations, and the Charles R. Emrick, Jr.Calfee Halter & Griswold Professor of Law at Cleveland State University.
Product details
- Publisher : Regnery Publishing; First Edition (November 7, 2005)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 475 pages
- ISBN-10 : 159698001X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1596980013
- Item Weight : 2.63 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.5 x 1.25 x 10.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #907,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #514 in Constitutions (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the authors

Dr. Matthew Spalding is an expert in and teaches constitutional history, is an Adjunct Fellow of the Claremont Institute, and is the Director of the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at the Heritage Foundation.

Edwin Meese III served as the 75th Attorney General of the United States under President Reagan. The Chairman of the Editorial Advisory Board, he is a distinguished legal expert and holds the Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy at the Heritage Foundation.
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The Heritage Guide To The Constitution begins (after the introduction and preamble) with Article I, Section 1. How novel!
Then, this book methodically will state (especially in the Bill of Rights) the history of the clause, origins (citing examples to England)and U.S. case law which might cite the clause or section.
While I have always had a traditional or "Originalist" view of the U.S. Constitution, that was gained for reading about a dozen books in the almost 30 years since graduation from law school, The Heritage Guide... lays all the history and arguments (mostly from an "Originalist" perspective)out in a logical order, clause by clause. It cites other learned works, cases, historical documents.
Generally, the Constitutional Law taught in most "Top 50 Law Schools" is that of "Warren Court" or the "Living Constitution". That is, the Judiciary, especially the lifetime appointed federal judiciary, function is to interpret the Constitution in light of today's society, values, and traditions, not the intentions of the Framers. They teach and believe that the judiciary function is "to do what is best" for this citizens, because they (the judiciary) are not political (I can tell you that is false) and are not emotional like the legislative branch.
As an example of the thinking above, I was presiding over a criminal trial recently, and the defense attorney told the jury in his closing argument: "The "Warren Court gave us our Miranda Rights...". I could not stop myself from interrupting him and saying: "Mr. _____I thought those Rights were given to us by God or are Natural Rights or birth rights as Americans, I wasn't aware that the "Warren Court" gave them to us, but you may continue with your argument". I was picking on him, but it does demonstrate a philosophy that has pervaded at least two generations of law school graduates and has been harmful to this country, in my humble opinion.
Be prepared to be surprised, such as being cited to the English Bill of Rights of 1689, which bears an amazing resemblance to portions of our Bill of Rights, such as this: "That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" Sound like our 8th Amendment? The quote is from the English Bill of Right of 1689.
I have addressed this toward law students and lawyers, but it is a great but for anyone who loves history, government, politics or cares about the future of this country.
I have purchased at least 15 copies and given them to law students, judges, lawyers, and college students.
Joseph S. Johnston
Circuit Judge
13th Judicial Circuit, State of Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
The Guide takes you through the entire text of the Constitution, line by line, article by article, starting with a three-page discussion of the preamble. It's written by around 100 contributors, all of them well-regarded experts in law and political science. Their discussion of even contentious topics (e.g., Amendment II or privacy rights) is dispassionate and clear, laying out for the reader the history and the case law behind contemporary constitutional issues and avoiding value judgements. The contributors write without legal jargon and with admirable directness, making the Guide accessible (not just accessible, but even enjoyably readable) to anyone with a good highschool education. The sophistication of their discussion, though, makes it suitable also for university students at all levels and for anyone who has any interest at all in the U.S. Constitution. No matter what your position is on presidential war powers or gun control, you come away from this guide with a clear and concise understanding of how the legal debate got where it is now. Each article in the Guide is followed by cross references to other passages in the Constitution, suggestions for further research, and a list of significant cases touching on the particular Article and Section of the Constitution discussed. Thus the Guide isn't just good reading on its own, but an excellent tool and springboard for further research on any constitutional topic.
This book should be required reading for university undergraduates, and for at least those few who will fall under my power next year, it will be. I intend to use this book in my classes on "Law and Literature" and "Law and Economics" as required supplementary reading. It will help clarify class discussions that revolve around constitutional issues, improve student papers, and make my students better informed citizens of the United States. That last one is the real payoff for everyone. I recommend this book far beyond the mere number of stars by which Amazon allows me to rate it.
Let the naysayers and modern critics bray about the inconsistencies of American society compared to the idealism put forth in our founding documents all they want. When they are done ranting ask them to show you living proof of any other system that has provided such amazing results of prosperity for this great a number of people, causing lines to form at embassies around the world for the mere chance of visiting the country.
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution gives clues to why our Constitution worked so well in its original context and why, as America increasingly abandons the principles it set forth, we are beginning to falter at an alarming rate. Stealing the future of prosperity from our children, we are increasingly sacrificing the well being of our nation's future on the alter of ease and comfort in our own time.
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution points out how our founding fathers took a much more noble approach, sacrificing their fortunes and lives while producing a Constitutional system form of government that would make all our lives better.














