The Supreme Court of the United States (American Government in Action)

Grade 7-10?These books examine the branches of the federal government, emphasizing how they actually operate and influence citizens' lives. The Constitution is the weakest of the three. Judson does give readers good historical background on the constitutional convention and the issues that had to be resolved in order to write an effective constitution, but she does not include enough information about the main document or the way it has influenced our government. Donald Ritchie's The U.S. Constitution (Chelsea, 1989) provides a broader look at the topic. The Presidency is the best of these three titles; here, Judson provides a readable and interesting overview and discussion of the constitutional basis for the office, the evolution of the roles the president plays, the operations of the White House, and the organization of the executive branch. Both Richard Pious's The Presidency (Silver Burdett, 1991) and Richard Bernstein and Jerome Agel's The Presidency (Walker, 1989) have a more historical focus. The Supreme Court opens with a description of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, using it as an example of the Court's power to force changes in society. Kronenwetter then gives readers a brief description of our judicial system and a short history of the Court. He discusses how it operates and the increasing role that politics has played in appointments and decisions, and concludes with a chapter that details some of the Court's most important decisions. This is a solid, well-written book, but it does not have as much depth as Leon Friedman's The Supreme Court (Chelsea, 1986) or the historical focus of Ann Weiss's The Supreme Court (Enslow, 1987; o.p.). All three books are attractive and include black-and-white illustrations and photos, chapter notes, and bibliographies. However, they join a field that is very crowded, making them additional purchases for most collections.?Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
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