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Government and the Rule of Law Chapter and Young Adult Books: Nonfiction |
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The Declaration of Independence: The Words That Made America, illustrated by Sam Fink (New York: Scholastic, 2002). Through his illustrations, Fink interprets the meaning of each line of this founding document. Give Me Liberty! The Story of the Declaration of Independence, by Russell Freedman (New York: Holiday House, 2000). This richly illustrated book tells the story of the events that led to the colonists’ declaration and highlights the meaning of its famous words. Headline Court Cases (Springfield, NJ: Enslow, various dates). This series examines cases that enjoyed a high profile at the time they occurred. Thus, they are high interest but not necessarily the most important cases historically; still, examining a case in detail can give students insights into how the courts work. Examples of cases covered are the Lindbergh kidnapping case, the trial of Lizzie Borden, the Nuremberg war crimes trial, and the Haymarket Square Riot trial. Our Country’s Presidents, by Ann Bausum (Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2001). This book intersperses brief biographies of all the presidents with background information on the presidency, the White House, elections, first ladies, and political parties. Public Defender: Lawyer for the People, by Joan Hewett (Lodestar Books, 1991). A photo essay about the work of a public defender. Thurgood Marshall: A Life for Justice, by James Haskins (New York: Henry Holt, 1992). This biography of the late Supreme Court justice is especially helpful in dealing with the judiciary because it includes coverage not only of his years on the Supreme Court, but his career as an NAACP lawyer and as Solicitor General. Vaclav Havel and the Velvet Revolution, by Jeffrey Symynkywicz (Parsippany, NJ: Dillon Press, 1995). This biography illustrates how limited and unlimited government are different and how consent of the governed limits government in a democracy. We the People: The Constitution of the United States of America, by Peter Spier (Garden City, NH: Doubleday, 1987). Spier illustrates every phrase in the Preamble to the Constitution in a way that makes its meaning come alive. For example, for the phrase “insure domestic tranquility,” Spier presents 16 drawings illustrating how the government protects the safety of Americans past and present. A good way to introduce the Preamble. World Almanac Library of American Government (Strongsville, OH: World Almanac Library, various dates). This series includes titles on the presidency, Congress, the Supreme Court, the Cabinet and federal agencies, and other topics related to U.S. government. |
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