The Law of the Land: A Grand Tour of Our Constitutional Republic

Description

"Artfully blending the conventional with the controversial" ( Wall Street Journal ), a preeminent constitutional scholar explains how American geography affects constitutional law From Kennebunkport to Kauai, from the Rio Grande to the Northern Rockies, ours is a vast republic. While we may be united under one Constitution, separate and distinct states remain, each with its own constitution and culture. Geographic idiosyncrasies add more than just local character. Regional understandings of law and justice have shaped and reshaped our nation throughout history. America's Constitution, our founding and unifying document, looks slightly different in California than it does in Kansas. In The Law of the Land , renowned legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar illustrates how geography, federalism, and regionalism have influenced some of the biggest questions in American constitutional law. Writing about Illinois, "the land of Lincoln," Amar shows how our sixteenth president's ideas about secession were influenced by his Midwestern upbringing and outlook. All of today's Supreme Court justices, Amar notes, learned their law in the Northeast, and New Yorkers of various sorts dominate the judiciary as never before. The curious Bush v. Gore decision, Amar insists, must be assessed with careful attention to Florida law and the Florida Constitution. The second amendment appears in a particularly interesting light, he argues, when viewed from the perspective of Rocky Mountain cowboys and cowgirls. Propelled by Amar's distinctively smart, lucid, and engaging prose, these essays allow general readers to see the historical roots of, and contemporary solutions to, many important constitutional questions. The Law of the Land illuminates our nation's history and politics, and shows how America's various local parts fit together to form a grand federal framework. Review: The Law of the Land doesn't disappoint - As always, Akil Reed Amar's book was insightful and raised many interesting questions. I particular enjoyed his breaking things down into various states and showing how the major concepts applied in those early states . desertcart's delivery was also a very pleasant experience it arrived sooner than expected and was in great condition----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Review: A celebration of federalism from an unusual angle - In a fresh take on federalism, Professor Amar of Yale law school examines how the geography and history of different states shaped the Constitution. The chapter on how the Midwest formed Lincoln's Constitutional views is alone worth the price of the book. But Amar also explores why Justice Hugo Black of Alabama was one of our most important justices, why Justice Robert Jackson of New York is so highly respected by court insiders, and why Justice Kennedy's Northern California upbringing made him so open to recognizing gay rights. Amar is perhaps America's most trusted living legal scholar. His work has been cited over 30 times by the United States Supreme Court -- by both liberal and conservative justices -- on issues ranging from gun rights, to criminal procedure, to the structure of the Constitution. Amar famously writes not just for justices, judges, and lawyers, but also for journalists, legislators, government officials, and keen high school students. A rewarding read for general readers and legal specialists alike.