Books in Amendments to the United States Constitution: the Bill of Rights series

The Fifth Amendment is the longest amendment in the Bill of Rights, so this book begins by breaking down each clause one-by-one, explaining the legalese in uncomplicated language, thus allowing the reader to reach a full understanding of due process. It then explains the ratification process of the Bill of Rights and systemically describes the impact of the Fifth Amendment clause by clause, using Supreme Court cases as real-world examples. Sidebars highlight the amendment in action and delve into finer points, such as the Fourteenth Amendment’s impact on the Fifth and the McCarthy era. This book features a list of all the Amendments to the Constitution, including those proposed, but unratified. A rich resource section allows for further exploration.

Prior to the existence of the Eighth Amendment, there was little to protect citizens of the English colonies from excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments. The enduring freedoms guaranteed by this amendment are extremely important to all U.S. citizens. Readers will learn about the politicians who fought for the amendment’s passage. They will also learn about what life was like for Americans before the Eighth Amendment was passed, how the amendment’s elastic wording has helped it remain relevant through the years, and how it defends our freedoms today.

One of the hallmarks of the American criminal justice system is the right of all people accused of a crime to defend themselves in a speedy, public trial. According to the Sixth Amendment, individuals accused of crimes have a number of important rights, including: the right to a jury of their peers, the right to be informed of the charges against them, the right to an attorney and witnesses in their defense, and the right to face their accuser. This book reviews the history of the Sixth Amendment, including the events that inspired it and the major Supreme Court cases related to it. In a concise and interesting way, the author explains the unalienable rights that are at the heart of our justice system.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were born out of a highly contentious and passionate ideological debate over the relative balance of federal versus state powers. The Tenth Amendment is a further attempt to address the challenges of reaching and maintaining that balance. Readers will learn about the historical context behind why this amendment was deemed necessary and how it was debated, drafted, and ratified. The application of the amendment to specific cases reveals how notions of states’ versus federal rights have evolved over time. The lively and high-stakes debate over federal power and its limitations is illustrated with reference to relevant contemporary issues, like drinking and driving ages, speed limits, gun ownership and use, health care, environmental standards, food and drug laws, and controlled substances. Readers will be fascinated by this ongoing conflict between state and federal government.

The United States has the most guns per capita of any country in the world. Many Americans value the right to bear arms, which they believe is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Others believe that the Second Amendment only guarantees the right for organized militias to own guns. This book surveys the history of the Second Amendment and gun ownership in the United States, and explores how the amendment continues to affect us today.