The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution

Linda Monk's book on the American Constitution, `The Words We Live By', is a wonderfully accessible and interesting introduction to the foundational document of the American polity. She starts in her introductory material by presenting the Constitution not as a dry and dusty piece of parchment to be revered but essentially ignored, but rather as an engagement of peoples in open conversation, something that can and should have an impact on the daily life and work of all Americans. Drawing inspiration from Judge Learned Hand, she states, `For the Constitution to have meaning, it must be not only the words we recite, but also the words we live by.'Monk recognises the importance of the Constitution, and its unique place in history, but does not give it false priority by forgetting its historic underpinnings. The founders who gathered in convention in 1787 brought their backgrounds and training with them, as well as a sense of self-government and an awareness of what might work and not work in the newly formed nation, gained from 150 years of essentially self-rule as colonies.The framers of the Constitution were not under the illusion that they were creating a perfect document, as Monk states, quoting Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes - `it is an experiment, as all life is an experiment.' The preamble of the Constitution, perhaps the best know part, strives to form `a more perfect union', not a perfect one.Monk draws information from the Federalist papers, other documents contemporary with the Constitution, and artwork and illustrations to help the text come alive. For each section, be they preamble, article, or amendment, Monk first sets forth the text, and then provides a passage-by-passage commentary. Often this refers to court cases, government structures and procedures, and significant events that helped to shape the Constitution, even as it has worked to shape American society. There are side notes with definitions for key words and terms, quotable quotes from historians as well as historical figures, and text boxes separate from the main text body to draw particular emphasis on points of greater interest in contemporary issues (George Will on the question of term limits for Congress; Benjamin Franklin on property qualifications for voting; etc.).Monk ends as she began, writing of the Constitution as words to live by in the future. She characterises the ongoing debate as one between different ideas of freedom - some see freedom as freedom from something (government intrusion and more), whereas others see freedom as freedom to achieve something. How this will ultimately be played out on a constitutional level is speculation, as is the conjecture on what may become future amendments to the Constitution.Overall, this was a fun book to read, informative and interesting. Monk draws text box and side-bar quotations and examples from across the political spectrum and across American history, to give a reasonable balance toward the issues politically. This is useful particularly for high school and undergraduate civics and political science classes, as well as American history classes. It is also good for general readers, and has a layout that shows an awareness of the importance of different colours, images, typefaces and more for keeping visual interest in addition to interest in content.This will help one live by the words more fully.

What a time to be alive!The 25th amendment is currently being tossed around in the halls of the White House and the Capitol building after lawmakers had to be rushed out yesterday when angry extremists with guns stormed the building because the President incited a riot. Who can invoke the 25th amendment?Social media is currently awash with claims that, should the president be impeached a second time, he’d be permanently and automatically banned from holding federal office again. Is this true?These are just a couple of the things I’ve looked up in the Words we Live By today, which was recommended to me by a lawyer friend. It’s a clear, easy-to-read guide. Each passage of the constitution is followed by explanations and examples of how the law has been interpreted and applied. Where there are disagreements over how to interpret certain passages, those are noted noted too. There are quotes in the margins from a wide variety of American citizens and lawmakers and short blurbs here and there from Supreme Court justices and other well-known people currently or formerly involved in American politics. The full, uninterrupted text of the constitution is published in the back of the book.The book is completely appropriate for high schoolers or even advanced middle schoolers. I highly recommend it, especially for the present moment when every day seems bring fresh talk of a potential constitutional crisis. Unfortunately, it will probably only make you feel worse about this bizarre moment in American history, but at least you’ll feel bad *and* smart.This guide was updated in 2015 and will probably need to be updated again soon, assuming a peaceful transition of power takes place and we all don’t end up living in a banana republic, at which point the constitution will hardly matter! Fun times!