Fault Lines in the Constitution: The Framers, Their Fights, and the Flaws That Affect Us Today

Many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in the US Constitution. Husband-and-wife team Cynthia and Sanford Levinson take readers back to the creation of this historic document and discuss how contemporary problems were first introduced--then they offer possible solutions. Think Electoral College, gerrymandering, even the Senate. Many of us take these features in our system for granted. But they came about through haggling in an overheated room in 1787, and we're still experiencing the ramifications. Each chapter in this timely and thoughtful exploration of the Constitution's creation begins with a story--all but one of them true--that connects directly back to a section of the document that forms the basis of our society and government. From the award-winning team, Cynthia Levinson, children's book author, and Sanford Levinson, constitutional law scholar, Fault Lines in the Constitution will encourage exploration and discussion from young and old readers alike.

About the Author :
Cynthia Levinson holds degrees from Wellesley College and Harvard University and also attended the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. A former teacher and educational policy consultant and researcher, she is the author of the award-winning and critically-acclaimed We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. She has also published articles in Appleseeds, Calliope, Cobblestone, Dig, Faces, and Odyssey. Sanford Levinson is an American legal scholar, a professor in the Law School and the Department of Government at the University of Texas, and a frequent visiting professor at Harvard Law School. He holds degrees from Duke, Stanford, and Harvard universities and is the author of several adult works of nonfiction.

Review :
"A fascinating, thoughtful, and provocative look at what in the Constitution keeps the United States from being 'a more perfect union.'" "Insightful... Much food for thought on the application and relevance of many of the Constitution's stipulations. Essential for class discussions, debate teams, and reports." "Interest-piquing anecdotes open each chapter, the effects of the Constitution's provisions are dramatically summarized in poster-like illustrations, and the ensuing discussions...are both cogent and highly readable...thought-provoking and exceptionally topical" "Lately there's been dismay that civics, government, and history have taken a backseat in classrooms. This smartly conceived book goes a long way toward reintroducing students to those subjects....the Levinsons link both history and current events as they offer an illustrative group of examples that show where the Constitution got it right--and wrong.... Although the font, charts, and well-written text make this appealing, it's not always an easy read. It is, however, an important one."