How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution

How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution PDF Author: Richard A. Epstein
Publisher: Cato Institute
ISBN: 1933995297
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution explores the fundamental shift in political and economic thought of the Progressive Era and how the Supreme Court was used to transform the Constitution into one that reflected the ideas of their own time, while undermining America’s founding principles. Epstein examines key decisions to demonstrate how Progressives attacked much of the legal precedent and eventually weakened the Court’s thinking concerning limited federal powers and the protection of individual rights. Progressives on the Court undermined basic economic principles of freedom and competition, paving the way for the modern redistributive and regulatory state. This book shows that our modern “constitutional law,” fashioned largely by the New Deal Court in the late 1930s, has its roots in Progressivism, not in our country's founding principles, and how so many of those ideas, however discredited by more recent economic thought, still shape the Court's decisions.

How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution

How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution PDF Author: Richard A. Epstein
Publisher: Cato Institute
ISBN: 1933995297
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 175

Get Book Here

Book Description
How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution explores the fundamental shift in political and economic thought of the Progressive Era and how the Supreme Court was used to transform the Constitution into one that reflected the ideas of their own time, while undermining America’s founding principles. Epstein examines key decisions to demonstrate how Progressives attacked much of the legal precedent and eventually weakened the Court’s thinking concerning limited federal powers and the protection of individual rights. Progressives on the Court undermined basic economic principles of freedom and competition, paving the way for the modern redistributive and regulatory state. This book shows that our modern “constitutional law,” fashioned largely by the New Deal Court in the late 1930s, has its roots in Progressivism, not in our country's founding principles, and how so many of those ideas, however discredited by more recent economic thought, still shape the Court's decisions.

How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution

How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution PDF Author: Richard Allen Epstein
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781598759129
Category : Constitutional history
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
How Progressives Rewrote the Constitution explores the fundamental shift in political and economic thought of the Progressive Era and how the Supreme Court was used to transform the Constitution into one that reflected the ideas of their own time, while undermining America's founding principles.

The Progressives' Century

The Progressives' Century PDF Author: Stephen Skowronek
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300204841
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 542

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Book Description
Chapter 20. How the Progressives Became the Tea Party's Mortal Enemy: Networks, Movements, and the Political Currency of Ideas -- Chapter 21. What Is to Be Done? A New Progressivism for a New Century -- List of Contributors -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y -- Z

The Classical Liberal Constitution

The Classical Liberal Constitution PDF Author: Richard A. Epstein
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674727800
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 889

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Book Description
American liberals and conservatives alike take for granted a progressive view of the Constitution that took root in the early twentieth century. Richard Epstein laments this complacency which, he believes, explains America’s current economic malaise and political gridlock. Steering clear of well-worn debates between defenders of originalism and proponents of a living Constitution, Epstein employs close textual reading, historical analysis, and political and economic theory to urge a return to the classical liberal theory of governance that animated the framers’ original text, and to the limited government this theory supports. “[An] important and learned book.” —Gary L. McDowell, Times Literary Supplement “Epstein has now produced a full-scale and full-throated defense of his unusual vision of the Constitution. This book is his magnum opus...Much of his book consists of comprehensive and exceptionally detailed accounts of how constitutional provisions ought to be understood...All of Epstein’s particular discussions are instructive, and most of them are provocative...Epstein has written a passionate, learned, and committed book.” —Cass R. Sunstein, New Republic

Progressive Challenges to the American Constitution

Progressive Challenges to the American Constitution PDF Author: Bradley C. S. Watson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107094372
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 343

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Book Description
This book details the origins of American progressivism and its enduring effects on American politics and constitutionalism in the twenty-first century.

Progressive Challenges to the American Constitution

Progressive Challenges to the American Constitution PDF Author: Bradley C. S. Watson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781108327497
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
This book details the origins of American progressivism and its enduring effects on American politics and constitutionalism in the twenty-first century

Takings

Takings PDF Author: Richard A. Epstein
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674036557
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 377

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Book Description
If legal scholar Richard Epstein is right, then the New Deal is wrong, if not unconstitutional. Epstein reaches this sweeping conclusion after making a detailed analysis of the eminent domain, or takings, clause of the Constitution, which states that private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. In contrast to the other guarantees in the Bill of Rights, the eminent domain clause has been interpreted narrowly. It has been invoked to force the government to compensate a citizen when his land is taken to build a post office, but not when its value is diminished by a comprehensive zoning ordinance. Epstein argues that this narrow interpretation is inconsistent with the language of the takings clause and the political theory that animates it. He develops a coherent normative theory that permits us to distinguish between permissible takings for public use and impermissible ones. He then examines a wide range of government regulations and taxes under a single comprehensive theory. He asks four questions: What constitutes a taking of private property? When is that taking justified without compensation under the police power? When is a taking for public use? And when is a taking compensated, in cash or in kind? Zoning, rent control, progressive and special taxes, workers’ compensation, and bankruptcy are only a few of the programs analyzed within this framework. Epstein’s theory casts doubt upon the established view today that the redistribution of wealth is a proper function of government. Throughout the book he uses recent developments in law and economics and the theory of collective choice to find in the eminent domain clause a theory of political obligation that he claims is superior to any of its modern rivals.

We the People

We the People PDF Author: Erwin Chemerinsky
Publisher: Picador
ISBN: 1250166004
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 319

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Book Description
"This work will become the defining text on progressive constitutionalism — a parallel to Thomas Picketty’s contribution but for all who care deeply about constitutional law. Beautifully written and powerfully argued, this is a masterpiece." --Lawrence Lessig, Harvard Law School, and author of Free Culture Worried about what a super conservative majority on the Supreme Court means for the future of civil liberties? From gun control to reproductive health, a conservative court will reshape the lives of all Americans for decades to come. The time to develop and defend a progressive vision of the U.S. Constitution that protects the rights of all people is now. University of California Berkeley Dean and respected legal scholar Erwin Chemerinsky expertly exposes how conservatives are using the Constitution to advance their own agenda that favors business over consumers and employees, and government power over individual rights. But exposure is not enough. Progressives have spent too much of the last forty-five years trying to preserve the legacy of the Warren Court’s most important rulings and reacting to the Republican-dominated Supreme Courts by criticizing their erosion of rights—but have not yet developed a progressive vision for the Constitution itself. Yet, if we just look to the promise of the Preamble—liberty and justice for all—and take seriously its vision, a progressive reading of the Constitution can lead us forward as we continue our fight ensuring democratic rule, effective government, justice, liberty, and equality. Includes the Complete Constitution and Amendments of the United States of America

Principles Matter

Principles Matter PDF Author: Carlos A. Ball
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197584500
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
Progressives who opposed the Trump administration's policies found themselves repeatedly relying on constitutional principles grounded in federalism, separation of powers, and free speech to resist the federal government. Although many progressives had either criticized or underemphasized those principles before Trump, the principles became vital to progressive causes after Trump was elected. Using dozens of examples from the ways in which Trump abused presidential powers, this book explains how the three sets of principles can help mitigate the harms that autocratic leaders in the Trump mold can inflict on both democratic institutions and vulnerable minorities. In doing so, the book urges progressives to follow this rule of thumb in the post-Trump era: If a constitutional principle was worth deploying to resist Trump's harmful policies and autocratic governance, then it is worth defending in the post-Trump era even if it makes the short-term attainment of progressive objectives more difficult. This type of principled constitutionalism is essential not only because being principled is good in and of itself, but also because being principled in matters related to federalism, separation of powers, and free speech will help both advance progressive causes over the long run and reduce the threats posed by future autocratic leaders in the Trump mold to our system of self-governance, to our democratic values, and to traditionally subordinated minorities. Going forward, progressives should promote and defend constitutional principles grounded in federalism, separation of powers, and free speech regardless of whether they have an ally or an opponent in the White House.

A Patriot's Call to Action

A Patriot's Call to Action PDF Author: Jim Delaney
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 1483660141
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 195

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Book Description
A Patriot’s Call to Action will enable busy Americans to more easily square today’s unending political palaver and double-talk with our Constitution’s original intent. In bite-sized form, this eminently readable book clearly summarizes some key constitutional concepts, like the Supremacy Clause, the Welfare Clause, Nullification, Executive Orders, Impeachment, Secession, etc., which will enable the reader to distinguish between politically correct, agenda-driven interpretations of the Constitution and what our Founders actually intended. Given the complacency gripping the country and the political ruling class’s brazen circumvention of foundational Constitutional restraints, the author fearlessly and unambiguously reminds us of our God-given rights, authority and responsibilities as citizens of a republic, and outlines a commonsense action plan for restoring constitutional order. The author posits that too many Americans are conditioned to the “benefits” of collectivism and the seductive, yet empty, promises of a suffocatingly expansive central government. Uninformed and seduced by the razzle-dazzle of self-serving political elites, many Americans have carelessly permitted our government to lead us on the path toward economic ruin and political oppression—developments which would have dumbfounded and enraged our Founding Fathers. The author unflinchingly asserts that to believe we are a republic today is foolhardy at best, delusional at worst. Absent bold grassroots remedies, the author asserts that our wealth, our way of life, our liberties will surely go the way of the dinosaurs. If you’re looking for simple-minded validation of your political party affiliation, this book isn’t for you. Some of what the author says will rankle, but it will make you think and, hopefully, will encourage you to take action to restore and safeguard those principles and practices which made America history’s most productive experiment in self-government.