Constitution Day Reading List

UHWO’s Constitution Day will be honored on Monday, September 18, 2023 @ 10am in the Nāulu Center’s Outdoor Learning Space. In the spirit of Constitution and Citizenship Day at UHWO, the Library has put together a reading list for those interested in expanding their knowledge surrounding the Constitution and U.S. history.

The books selected are available online to UHWO students, faculty and staff —- just click on the image or the link.

Happy reading.

America’s Founding Documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and the Bill of Rights.

This book houses several founding documents that serve as excellent primary resources for America’s founding history.  This collection includes unabridged versions of: the Declaration of Independence (1776); the Articles of Confederation (1777); the United States Constitution (1787), the Federalist Papers (1787-1788); and the Bill of Rights (1791).

The Constitution Explained: a Guide for Every American
By David Hudson (2022)

This book aims to make the Constitution more understandable  and relatable for everyday Americans.  It explores the various clauses, amendments and interpretations of the Constitution to examine how they affect American life presently.  The book “sheds a light on the differing and changing interpretations … You’ll learn how the Constitution has been adopted to different times and various situations… and what it does-and does not promise U.S. citizens (Visible Ink Press.)”

Women and the U.S. Constitution: History, Interpretation, and Practice
By Sibyl Schwarzenbach and Patricia Smith (2004)

This book examines the laws, history, political theories, and philosophical aspects rooted in the U.S. Constitution in relationship to the rights of women.  Using a three part approach — “History, Interpretation, and Practice– this book views the Constitution as a living document, struggling to free itself from the weight of a two-hundred year old past (Columbia University Press).”  The authors delve into the U.S. Constitution to explore issues of central concern to contemporary women such as feminism, gender discrimination, labor/work,  basic rights/privacy, and abortion.

The U.S. Constitution in Film: Part of our National Culture
By Eric T. Kasper & Quentin Vieregge (2018)

This book takes a deeper look into how the U.S. Constitution has been depicted in Hollywood, examining how political beliefs of directors, producers, and actors are reflected in these films.  The book asserts these political beliefs/views/and perspectives can influence popular understanding of the Constitution and U.S. history and are “products of the political tug of war over the interpretation of nation’s blueprint for government and politics (Proquest Ebook Central).”   The book also exposes myths in film and compares these films to what is written in the Constitution and how the U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted it.

The Framers’ Coup: the Making of the United States Constitution 
By Michael Klarman (2016)

This book takes a look at the drafting and ratification processes of the Constitution by examining the personalities, political interests, and clashes of opinion by its drafters.  The author supplies background information on the events, confluence of circumstances, and people who worked to draft the Constitution and turn it into reality.  “The Framers’ Coup explains why the Framers preferred such a Constitution and how they managed to persuade the country to adopt it.  We have lived with the consequences, both positive and negative, ever since (Proquest Ebook Central).”