Unplugging the Constitution


Book Description

In this collection of articles and essays, the author confronts a wide range of issues--among them, constitutional theory, adjudication, legal hermeneutics, bar exams, marriage, psychological incapacity, free speech--and takes a nonconventional and, at times, critical view of standard legal discourse and prevailing social institutions.




Constitutionalism in Asia in the Early Twenty-First Century


Book Description

A systematic and up-to-date account of constitutional developments in sixteen Asian countries, including analysis from a comparative perspective.




The Constitution and the Pride of Reason


Book Description

Attempting to realize Plato's vision of a republic governed by "reason," American constitutionalists, according to Steven D. Smith's bold new critical study, have instead reenacted the Tower of Babel myth, producing a constitutional discourse marked by rampant confusion, elaborate sophistry, and thinly veiled authoritarian bullying. How is it that the pursuit of such lofty aims by yesterday's framers and today's scholars has left us mired in a constitutional morass? This timely book ponders that question with the intellectual vigor it deserves. Observing that standard accounts of constitutional law--both the "conservative" and "liberal" varieties--have lost their power to illuminate, The Constitution and the Pride of Reason explores how constitutional law hangs together (and how it falls apart) by investigating the perennial claim that the Constitution and its interpretation somehow embody a commitment to governance by "reason." What does this claim mean, and is it valid? In confronting these queries, Smith offers revealing and iconoclastic assessments of constitutionalists ranging from Madison and Jefferson to Dworkin and Bork. Also detailed in these pages is a provocative overview of the whole constitutional project, from its noble aspirations to its tragic failures. A truly visionary work that investigates the scholarship, the design, and the history of the quintessential American legal document, this volume also sensibly reflects on the meaning and possibility of the ethical commitment to the "life of reason." It will appeal not only to students of constitutional law but also to those interested in political science, philosophy, and American history.




The Nevada State Constitution


Book Description

In this newly revised work, Michael Bowers presents an historical overview of constitutional development in the state of Nevada. The Nevada State Constitution provides a comprehensive section-by-section analysis of the state constitution. In addition, a thorough bibliographic essay notes the seminal works relating to the constitution, and a list of cases enumerates the landmark federal and state court decisions interpreting the state's constitution and the more than one hundred amendments to it. This one-of-a-kind treatment of the Nevada Constitution is essential reading for those interested in the historical development and contemporary meaning of the Sagebrush State's oldest and most foundational legal document. The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States is an important series that reflects a renewed international interest in constitutional history and provides expert insight into each of the 50 state constitutions. Each volume in this innovative series contains a historical overview of the state's constitutional development, a section-by-section analysis of its current constitution, and a comprehensive guide to further research. Under the expert editorship of Professor G. Alan Tarr, Director of the Center on State Constitutional Studies at Rutgers University, this series provides essential reference tools for understanding state constitutional law. Books in the series can be purchased individually or as part of a complete set, giving readers unmatched access to these important political documents.




We Have Never Been Modern


Book Description

With the rise of science, we moderns believe, the world changed irrevocably, separating us forever from our primitive, premodern ancestors. But if we were to let go of this fond conviction, Bruno Latour asks, what would the world look like? His book, an anthropology of science, shows us how much of modernity is actually a matter of faith. What does it mean to be modern? What difference does the scientific method make? The difference, Latour explains, is in our careful distinctions between nature and society, between human and thing, distinctions that our benighted ancestors, in their world of alchemy, astrology, and phrenology, never made. But alongside this purifying practice that defines modernity, there exists another seemingly contrary one: the construction of systems that mix politics, science, technology, and nature. The ozone debate is such a hybrid, in Latour’s analysis, as are global warming, deforestation, even the idea of black holes. As these hybrids proliferate, the prospect of keeping nature and culture in their separate mental chambers becomes overwhelming—and rather than try, Latour suggests, we should rethink our distinctions, rethink the definition and constitution of modernity itself. His book offers a new explanation of science that finally recognizes the connections between nature and culture—and so, between our culture and others, past and present. Nothing short of a reworking of our mental landscape, We Have Never Been Modern blurs the boundaries among science, the humanities, and the social sciences to enhance understanding on all sides. A summation of the work of one of the most influential and provocative interpreters of science, it aims at saving what is good and valuable in modernity and replacing the rest with a broader, fairer, and finer sense of possibility.




Omnibus III


Book Description




A Practical Companion to the Constitution


Book Description

This is the most comprehensive and readable one-volume reference book in print, accessible to lay readers and specialists alike, on the meaning of the American Constitution as the Supreme Court has interpreted it. It is an indispensable tool for students and lay persons who want to understand today's constitutional controversies and their background in our history. It is equally useful to lawyers and other specialists who seek quick reviews of constitutional issues with immediate reference to cases for further research. Unlike conventional treatises that discuss the Constitution clause by clause or under a few broad concepts, this book uniquely treats every aspect of the Constitution and every constitutional topic in alphabetical order, in more than 1,000 short essays. It is extensively cross-referenced and exhaustively indexed, so that even a reader with only a minimal notion of the Constitution or constitutional law can quickly find clear answers to questions about pressing issues of the day. Among the other unique features: a set of introductory essays on the background of the Constitution and the many difficulties of interpreting it; a concordance to each word and phrase in the Constitution; a year-by-year chronology of justices who have served on the Supreme Court; and a table of the more than 2,650 Supreme Court cases from 1792 to the present referred to in the book, listing the vote, the author of the majority opinion, the concurring and dissenting justices, and the length of the opinions.




Populist Nationalism in Europe and the Americas


Book Description

Populist nationalism fuses beliefs that citizens are being exploited by a privileged elite with claims that the national culture and interests are under threat from enemies within or without. Ideologically fluid, populist nationalists decry “out-of-touch” institutions such as political parties and the mainstream press while extolling the virtues of the “people.” They claim that only populists can truly represent the nation and solve its problems, and often call for unorthodox solutions that appeal to the common people. The recent spread of populist nationalism throughout the world has triggered a growing interest in the subject, led mainly by journalists. The Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump in the US have provoked a flurry of media coverage in Europe and the Americas, along with parliamentary debates. Some social scientists have sought to explain the resurgence of nationalism and the spread of populism in recent decades, but important questions remain and most of the scholarship has not adequately addressed the fusion of nationalism and populism. It fails to examine the combination of populism and nationalism comparatively, especially the contrast between the more progressive and leftist versions such as those in Latin America, and the more traditional conservative varieties that are gaining strength in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This interdisciplinary collection by experts on Europe and the Americas fills this void. The volume examines various experiences with populist nationalism, and offers theoretical tools to assess its future. Some chapters are in-depth country case studies and others take a broader perspective, but all open the door for meaningful comparison.




Chase's Calendar of Events 2024


Book Description

Find out what's going on any day of the year, anywhere across the globe! Since 1957, Chase's Calendar of Events lists everything worth knowing and celebrating for each day of the year: 12,500 holidays, national days, historical milestones, famous birthdays, festivals, sporting events and more. Publishers Weekly has cited it as "one of the most impressive reference volumes in the world." Library Journal named the 67th edition (A 2024 Starred Review) "an invaluable resource for trivia fans, planners, media professionals, teachers, and librarians.” From national days to celebrity birthdays, from historical milestones to astronomical phenomena, from award ceremonies and sporting events to religious festivals and carnivals, Chase's is the must-have reference used by experts and professionals—a one-stop shop with 12,500 entries for everything that is happening now or is worth remembering from the past. Completely updated for 2024, Chase's also features extensive appendices as well as a companion website that puts the power of Chase's at the user's fingertips. 2024is packed with special events and observances, including National days and public holidays of every nation on Earth Scores of new special days, weeks and months--such as International Day of Zero Waste or World Eel Day Famous birthdays of new world leaders, lauded authors and breakout celebrities Info on the 2024 Great North American Eclipse. Info on the restoration and reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris. Info on milestone anniversaries, such as the 300th birth anniversary of Immanuel Kant, the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress, the 100th birth anniversary of James Baldwin and more. Information on such special events as the International Year of Camelids and the Paris Olympics or Euro 2024. And much more!




Chase's Calendar of Events 2025


Book Description

Find out what's going on any day of the year, anywhere across the globe! Since 1957, Chase's Calendar of Events lists everything worth knowing and celebrating for each day of the year: 12,500 holidays, national days, historical milestones, famous birthdays, festivals, sporting events and more. "One of the most impressive reference volumes in the world." -- Publishers Weekly From national days to celebrity birthdays, from historical milestones to astronomical phenomena, from award ceremonies and sporting events to religious festivals and carnivals, Chase's is the must-have reference used by experts and professionals—a one-stop shop with 12,500 entries for everything that is happening now or is worth remembering from the past. Completely updated for 2025, Chase's also features extensive appendices (astronomical data, major awards, perpetual calendar) as well as an exclusive companion website that puts the power of Chase's at the user's fingertips. 2025 is packed with special events and observances, including National days and public holidays of every nation on Earth Scores of new special days, weeks and months--such as the International Day for the Arabian Leopard (Feb 10), American Sparkling Wine Day (July 3) or Reduce Your Lawn Day (May 20). Birthdays of new world leaders, lauded authors, sports stars and breakout celebrities Info on milestone anniversaries, such as the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the 250th birth anniversary of Jane Austen, the 150th birth anniversary of Mary McLeod Bethune, the 50th anniversary of the cult filmThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 25th anniversary of the first human habitation of the International Space Station, and much more. Information on such special events as the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and Expo 2025 And much more!