The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution by Brion McClanahan

The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution

Brion McClanahan

Skyhorse Publishing · Print & ebook · May 20, 2013

A History pick for readers exploring The Founding Fathers Guide to the Constitution.

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Who it’s for
A sharply argued look at constitutional meaning, grounded in how the founding generation debated its terms.
Themes
Constitutional interpretation, Limits on federal power, Founding-era political thought
Genres
Constitutional Theory, Revolutionary America (1775-1800), Congress & Legislatures

About this book

What Does the Constitution Really Mean? Are liberals right when they cite the “elastic” clauses of the Constitution to justify big government? Or are conservatives right when they cite the Constitution’s explicit limits on federal power? The answer lies in a more basic question: How did the founding generation intend for us to interpret and apply the Constitution?

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Professor Brion McClanahan, popular author of The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Founding Fathers, finds the answers by going directly to the source—to the Founding Fathers themselves, who debated all the relevant issues in their state constitutional conventions. In The Founding Fathers’ Guide to the Constitution, you’ll discover: - How the Constitution was designed to protect rather than undermine the rights of States - Why Congress, not the executive branch, was meant to be the dominant branch of government—and why the Founders would have argued for impeaching many modern presidents for violating the Constitution - Why an expansive central government was the Founders’ biggest fear, and how the Constitution—and the Bill of Rights—was designed to guard against it - Why the founding generation would regard most of the current federal budget—including “stimulus packages”—as unconstitutional - Why the Founding Fathers would oppose attempts to “reform” the Electoral College - Why the Founding Fathers would be horrified at the enormous authority of the Supreme Court, and why the Founders intended Congress, not the Court, to interpret federal law Authoritative, fascinating, and timely, The Founding Fathers’ Guide to the Constitution is the definitive layman’s guide to America’s most important—and often willfully misunderstood—historical document.

Reading the Constitution

A sharply argued look at constitutional meaning, grounded in how the founding generation debated its terms.

Come here for

  • State conventions and the Founders’ arguments on federal power
  • Questions about Congress, the courts, and constitutional limits

Expect

  • A direct, interpretive case—not a neutral survey
  • Historical debates brought to bear on present-day disputes

Where it sits

Constitutional Theory52%
Revolutionary America (1775-1800)30%
Congress & Legislatures20%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Revolutionary America (1775-1800)
Authors
Brion McClanahan
Publisher
Skyhorse Publishing
Published
May 20, 2013
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Constitutional interpretation · Limits on federal power · Founding-era political thought
Reading lane
Revolutionary America (1775-1800)