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The United States Constitution: a graphic adaptation
written by Jonathan Hennessey, illo'd by Aaron McConnnell
Hill and Wang, 2008.
Meh. As someone with little familiarity with the US Constitution (despite the fact that I got a copy years ago) I appreciate what I get from this volume, but I sort of feel like I wanted more context. But that's the thing. I never really have sat down & done this kind of study of the Constitution & its historical trappings, so I'm the sort of person to benefit from this kind of work. It's an overview, & a quick read. Well enough.
The conceit of representing states as birds is amusing & not immediately obvious.
One of the best things is the last bit, with the history of later amendments. In all the glorification of the Founding Fathers some us indulge in, it gets lost just how messed up the constitutional system was in this country for most of its history. For a long time the Constitution was about protecting the privileges of state institutions, and not the rights of persons; “Constitution-in-exile” types need to be reminded of that.
Something as simple as prohibiting Congress from voting compensation increases for themselves that benefit the present session, took 203 years. A work in progress, indeed.
written by Jonathan Hennessey, illo'd by Aaron McConnnell
Hill and Wang, 2008.
Meh. As someone with little familiarity with the US Constitution (despite the fact that I got a copy years ago) I appreciate what I get from this volume, but I sort of feel like I wanted more context. But that's the thing. I never really have sat down & done this kind of study of the Constitution & its historical trappings, so I'm the sort of person to benefit from this kind of work. It's an overview, & a quick read. Well enough.
The conceit of representing states as birds is amusing & not immediately obvious.
One of the best things is the last bit, with the history of later amendments. In all the glorification of the Founding Fathers some us indulge in, it gets lost just how messed up the constitutional system was in this country for most of its history. For a long time the Constitution was about protecting the privileges of state institutions, and not the rights of persons; “Constitution-in-exile” types need to be reminded of that.
Something as simple as prohibiting Congress from voting compensation increases for themselves that benefit the present session, took 203 years. A work in progress, indeed.