Malcolm Rivera
In her book, *How to Read the Constitution and Why*, legal expert and educator Kim Wehle offers a comprehensive and accessible guide to understanding the United States Constitution. Wehle, a law professor and constitutional scholar, provides readers with a clear and concise explanation of the Constitution's content and its significance in everyday life. She highlights the importance of individual rights, such as free speech and the right to bear arms, and addresses the erosion of constitutional protections due to changing legal and social norms. Wehle's book is particularly relevant in an era of increasing partisan politics and concerns about threats to democracy, urging Americans to recognize the urgency of protecting the Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Kim Wehle |
| Profession | Law Professor and Constitutional Scholar |
| Book's purpose | To explain the US Constitution and why it needs to be protected |
| Book's target audience | All Americans |
| Book's tone | Compelling, insightful, urgent, and perennially relevant |
| Book's style | Clear, simple, common sense, layperson-friendly |
| Book's content | The powers of the president, the three branches of government, individual rights |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of understanding the Constitution
The United States Constitution is the most significant document in America. However, a 2017 poll from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center found that many Americans know very little about it. For instance, 37% of those surveyed could not name any rights protected under the First Amendment, and only 26% could name all three branches of government.
Kim Wehle, a law professor and constitutional scholar, wrote the book *How to Read the Constitution and Why* to address this issue. She believes that the American people must understand the Constitution to protect it. In the book, Wehle explains the Constitution in clear, simple, and common-sense terms, covering nearly every significant aspect of it, from the powers of the president to individual rights. She also describes how the Constitution's protections are eroding due to legal and social norms that no longer support its legitimacy.
Wehle's book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how the US Constitution works and why it needs to be protected. It is also relevant for those who want to parse the constantly breaking news about the backbone of American government. By reading Wehle's book, Americans can learn about their rights and the importance of enforcing the Constitution's rules.
In addition to her book, Wehle has been a regular guest legal analyst on various media outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. She has also written articles for prominent publications such as the Baltimore Sun and the L.A. Times. She is a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she teaches and writes on the constitutional separation of powers, administrative law, and civil procedure.
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The powers of the President
In her book, *How to Read the Constitution—and Why*, Kim Wehle, a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law, writes about the powers of the President. Wehle notes that the current President, Donald Trump, insists that the Constitution does not limit his power as president. According to Wehle, Trump believes that the Constitution is fundamentally flawed and that no due process protections should attach to his zero-tolerance policy on immigration. Trump also maintains that it is legally impossible for him to obstruct justice, and that he has the right to pardon himself of any criminal wrongdoing.
Wehle argues that Trump's disdain for the Constitution presents a realistic threat to democracy. She highlights the consolidation of power in the executive branch and expresses concern about Trump's behaviour. Wehle's analysis of the executive branch's consolidation of power will likely resonate with readers who are already worried about Trump's presidency.
Wehle's book covers the powers of the President and how the three branches of the US government are designed to hold each other accountable. She includes the full text of the Constitution and explains how it is interpreted and applied in practice. Wehle also discusses the erosion of constitutional protections and why Americans should pay attention to this "red flag" moment in their democracy.
Wehle's work is described as an invaluable and timely resource that is well-written and easy to understand. It provides insight into how the Constitution works and why it is important for Americans to protect it.
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The three branches of government
In her book, *How to Read the Constitution—and Why*, Kim Wehle, a law professor and constitutional scholar, covers the three branches of the US federal government and how they are designed to hold each other accountable.
Wehle explains that the "ingenious" checks and balances established by the Constitution between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the US government are no longer working. She argues that the executive branch is accumulating too much power. As evidence, she cites Congress's tolerance of the executive branch's power to declare war, the proliferation of executive orders that bypass congressional legislative priorities, and Congress's reluctance to employ the Constitution's emolument and impeachment clauses to check executive overreach.
Wehle identifies the flow of corporate money to political campaigns, state efforts to suppress voter participation, and polarized politics that hamper constructive policymaking as causes for this breakdown in the system of checks and balances.
She also expresses concern about President Trump's disdain for the Constitution, noting that he believes the document to be fundamentally flawed and that it cannot impede his zero-tolerance immigration policies or ability to pardon himself of any criminal wrongdoing. Wehle highlights the role of the President's Attorney General and Congress in enabling and supporting these attacks on the Constitution and the rule of law.
Wehle's book provides an accessible and insightful analysis of the US Constitution, its current state, and the threats it faces.
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Individual rights
In her book, "How to Read the Constitution—and Why", legal expert and educator Kim Wehle explains the Constitution in simple, common-sense terms, covering nearly every significant aspect of the text. She also describes how the Constitution's protections are eroding and why Americans need to pay attention to this "red flag" moment in democracy.
Wehle's book covers the topic of individual rights, including the following:
- Free speech
- The right to bear arms
- The right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures
- The right to an abortion
Wehle also discusses the consolidation of power in the executive branch and how President Trump's behaviour presents a realistic threat to democracy. She explains how Trump's disdain for the Constitution is not just theoretical, but a belief that the Constitution is fundamentally flawed and does not limit his power as President.
Overall, Wehle's book is an invaluable and timely resource for anyone who wants to understand how the United States Constitution works and why it is important to protect it.
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The Constitution's relevance in the modern era
The US Constitution is the most significant document in America. However, a 2017 poll from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center found that many Americans know very little about it. For instance, 37% of those surveyed could not name any rights protected under the First Amendment, and only 26% could name all three branches of government.
Kim Wehle, a law professor and constitutional scholar, wrote "How to Read the Constitution and Why" to address this issue. She believes that Americans need to understand what the Constitution says and why it matters in order to protect it. In the book, she lays out in clear, simple, and common-sense terms what is in the Constitution and what it means. She describes how the Constitution's protections are eroding, not only in express terms but also due to the erosion of legal and social norms that once supported its legitimacy. Wehle argues that the American people must be their own "Constitution Cops" and that the Constitution is useless if not enforced.
The book covers various significant aspects of the Constitution, including the powers of the president, the three branches of government, and individual rights such as free speech, the right to bear arms, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Wehle also offers analysis of the consolidation of power in the executive branch under President Trump, arguing that he lacks respect for constitutional norms and presents a threat to democracy.
"How to Read the Constitution and Why" is an accessible and insightful resource that provides essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the US Constitution and its relevance in the modern era. By translating the Constitution into layperson-friendly terms, Wehle makes it possible for all Americans to understand their rights and the importance of protecting them.
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Frequently asked questions
The book is about the US Constitution and why it needs to be protected. It covers topics such as the powers of the president, the three branches of government, and individual rights.
The author of the book is Kim Wehle, a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law. She is also a constitutional scholar and has been a legal analyst for various media outlets.
Kim Wehle wrote the book because she believes that Americans need to understand the Constitution and its importance. She also wants to highlight how the Constitution's protections are eroding and why it needs to be protected.
Kim Wehle is a legal expert and educator. She has been a law professor, a constitutional scholar, and has worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and an Associate Counsel in the Whitewater Investigation. She has also been a legal analyst and contributor for various news outlets, including CBS News and BBC World News.
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