Fault Lines in the Constitution

Starred review from September 4, 2017
Cynthia Levinson (The Youngest Marcher) and her constitutional law professor husband hone in on select aspects of the United States Constitution; after scrutiny of the Preamble’s intentions and some of the document’s problematic provisions, they call urgently for reform, giving it an overall C+ grade. (Sanford Levinson’s 2006 book, Our Undemocratic Constitution, navigated similar terrain for an adult readership.) The authors focus on how bills become law, who can vote or be elected to office, succession provisions, and amending the Constitution; the conundrum of the Electoral College merits its own section. Interest-piquing anecdotes open each chapter, the effects of the Constitution’s provisions are dramatically summarized in poster-like illustrations, and the ensuing discussions—a review of the Framers’ concerns in 1787, analyses of various “Big Problems,” and possible solutions found in other operating constitutions—are both cogent and highly readable (“We continue to operate under the terms of their last-minute flip-flop”). This thought-provoking and exceptionally topical work concludes with a debate between the Levinsons over the best way to accomplish much-needed changes to America’s most basic governing document. Ages 10–14. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary.

Starred review from August 1, 2017

Gr 6-8-Gerrymandering. Filibusters. The electoral college. The authors tackle these and other constitutional issues in this insightful work. The book functions differently than a straightforward explanatory text on the U.S. Constitution. Rather, the authors examine the fissures and issues that arise when it comes to the actual application of the Constitution: Why does a small state have the same power in the Senate as a state with exponentially higher population? How can certain stipulations in the Constitution deter otherwise popular legislation? The text discusses current conflicts, such as the irony of "Taxation Without Representation" in regard to Washington, DC, and Senate filibusters that kill potentially popular legislation before it can even be voted on. Historical situations are also examined, such as the Sedition Act of 1918 that barred anti-war speech during World War One. The book provides readers with a broad context of constitutional law; the text explores how various parts of the U.S. Constitution compare with individual state constitutions and other nations' constitutions. The authors not only raise timely issues, but provide readers with options of how a seemingly obsolete stipulation can be amended. Many examples of amended laws, e.g., the repeal of Prohibition, illustrate the evolving nature of the law. At times, the authors seem to express their support of a more direct democracy. They also provide a "report card" on the Constitution's ability to handle its objectives, such as "Form a More Perfect Union" and "Promote the General Welfare." Pons's helpful illustrations resemble infographics, pulling out startling facts from the text and repackaging them visually. VERDICT Much food for thought on the application and relevance of many of the Constitution's stipulations. Essential for class discussions, debate teams, and reports.-Jeffrey Meyer, Mount Pleasant Public Library, IA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2017
The United States Constitution has been amended 27 times since its 1788 ratification, but the Levinsons make the reasonable and compelling case that further revision will make it even more efficient and just. Cynthia Levinson, the author of We've Got a Job (2012), teams up with her husband, Sanford Levinson, a constitutional law scholar and professor, to explain how many of the political issues we struggle with today are rooted in flaws in the U.S. Constitution. Among the issues explored, in lively, accessible prose, are bicameralism, the Electoral College, emergency powers, gerrymandering, the presidential veto, and voter-identification requirements. In the chapters examining these issues, real-life examples illustrate each constitutional flaw (the 2000 election illustrates the problems in the Electoral College, for instance). Putting it in historical and contemporary context, the authors explain the problem, make comparisons to constitutions of other nations, and suggest viable solutions. The Levinsons grade the Constitution's success in meeting its primary goals as outlined in the Preamble, giving it a C-plus overall. The text concludes with the authors debating the pros and cons of a second Constitutional Convention. A fascinating, thoughtful, and provocative look at what in the Constitution keeps the United States from being "a more perfect union." (timeline, bibliography, endnotes) (Nonfiction. 10-18)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from September 1, 2017
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* 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. After an informative introduction that dissects the Preamble and covers the leap from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution, the Levinsons link both history and current events as they offer an illustrative group of examples that show where the Constitution got it rightand wrong. The nine chapters cover a wide range of topics, including bicameralism, presidential vetoes, gerrymandering, term limits, and voting rights. Each chapter begins with a controversial news event or court case. These are well-chosen: whether John McCain, born in the Canal Zone, was eligible to run for president; how a 101-year-old Texas woman was deprived of her vote because she lacked an approved ID; FDR's right to run for a third term. Then the chapters pivot ( Meanwhile, Back in 1787 ) and describe the framers' thinking on the topic. Other repeated sections examine the relevant topic in-depth; describe alternate methods, used by other states or countries, to deal with the issue; and explain how that issue played out and the effects it may continue to have today. Although the font, charts, and well-written text make this appealing, it's not always an easy read. It is, however, an important one.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

August 3, 2020
This jaunty graphic adaptation of the Levinsons’ 2017 youth guide to “the framers, their fights, and the flaws that affect us today” highlights the enduring problem points in the foundational document of the United States. Each chapter opens with real-life dilemmas that, according to the authors, stemmed from “crises we’ve faced since 1787 the limitations, ambiguities, and flatly bad ideas in the Constitution.” The work is at its strongest in these personalized anecdotes, such as an elderly woman disenfranchised by voter ID laws and an undocumented immigrant’s fight for legal status, but focus gets lost as 21 chapters race to cram in examples of how the Constitution impacts contemporary America in matter ranging from gerrymandering to farm subsidies. Shwed’s crisp layouts and cute character design manage to make the information overload more digestible, while Gerardo Alba’s red-white-and-blue color palette provides even the driest topics some pop. The Levinsons can be credited with a mountain of research and noble aims. But while it may appeal to students eager to avoid a standard textbook slog, the combination of dense text and rambling focus proves less accessible than the comics treatment promises. All the elements for a timely resource are here, but the result feels a touch underbaked.

January 1, 2018
The authors present a comprehensive account of the men involved in the writing of the Constitution, the struggles and conflicts between factions, and the eventual compromises necessary for its passage. Considerable space is given to how the Constitution affects our present government, arguing both strengths and weaknesses of the document. The lackluster text-heavy format is somewhat enhanced with sidebars and charts. Timeline. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)