Books in Ask the Constitution series

When the United States of America began as a country, only white men who owned land could vote. Over the last 230 years, people have fought and protested and even died to expand the right to vote to include every adult over the age of eighteen. Today, are there ways you can lose your right to vote? If it's too difficult to vote, can we really say that you still have that right? Voting is the best and sometimes only way Americans can have a say in their government, and readers will learn why it's worth fighting for.

While the U.S. Constitution is the ultimate basis of our rights as American citizens, we don't always understand the relationship between this charter of freedom and the laws that derive from it. This series asks provocative questions that draw attention to the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as the limitations that have been set on these rights. Particular attention is paid to the arguments over how this foundational document should be interpreted and how its interpretation has evolved over time. Show middle schoolers how the Constitution relates to the most hotly contested issues of our day and inspire them to add their own voices to the debate. Features include: Offers an in-depth look of the Constitution and explores how its words translate into laws and policies. Uses real-world examples to help young readers understand the Constitution's importance as a living document. Prompts students to engage with important topics in civics, one of the four core disciplines in the C3 Framework for Social Studies. Sidebars supply readers with extra information, while Notes and Further Reading sections provide additional resources for study.