The Constitution of 1787: A Commentary

The Constitution of 1787: A Commentary

"A marvelous instrument for introducing citizens to their Constitution" (Mortimer J. Adler), "this is exactly the kind of book that former Chief Justice Burger, as Chairman of the Bicentennial Commission, has been pleading with scholars and scholarly presses to produce" (Thomas L. Pangle, University of Toronto). A distinguished legal scholar, Anastaplo has undertaken a pioneer venture, an exe getical journey through the Constitution, article by article, section by section, vir tually clause by clause. Perceiving an un broken Anglo-American legal history, he emphasizes the framers' indebtedness to English common law and claims a contin uous line from English constitutionalism to the Declaration of Independence and then to the Constitution--hardly received scholarly truths. Insisting upon Con gress's dominance among the three branches of government, Anastaplo of fers example upon example of its powers and warns against presidential aggran dizements and the worship we have made of the executive office. Though his ap proach seems mechanical at first, this study is sensitive to complexity and throws up fresh analytic shards. It will be used by legal scholars for decades to come. -Milton Cantor, Univ. of Massa chusetts, Amherst Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. Those desiring to engage in the enterprise of 'thinking about the Constitution' in the company of a resourceful and knowledgeable guide will find this book quite interesting and enjoyable. ―Edward Dumbauld, Journal of American History A marvelous instrument for introducing citizens to their Constitution. ―Mortimer J. Adler A marvelous instrument for introducing citizens to their Constitution. -- Mortimer J. Adler Denied admission to the Illinois bar in 1950 after he refused on principle to answer questions about his political associations, George Anastaplo took his case to the Supreme Court, and lost, 5-4. In a famous dissent―which Justice William J. Brennan said "immortalized George Anastaplo"―Justice Hugo L. Black wrote, "We must not be afraid to be free." George Anastaplo is professor of law at Loyola University of Chicago, lecturer in the liberal arts at the University of Chicago, and author of The American Moralist . He has been honored by the recent two-volume Festschrift, Law and Philosophy .