A More Perfect Constitution Why the Constitution Must Be Revised: Ideas to Inspire a New Generation

by Sabato, Larry J.

• ISBN13: 9780802716835
• ISBN10: 0802716830
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-22
• Publisher: Walker Books

Summary

The political book of the year, from the acclaimed founder and director of the Center for politics at the University of Virginia.A More Perfect Constitutionpresents creative and dynamic proposals from one of the most visionary and fertile political minds of our time to reinvigorate our Constitution and American governance at a time when such change is urgently needed, given the growing dysfunction and unfairness of our political system . Combining idealism and pragmatism, and with full respect for the original document, Larry Sabato's thought-provoking ideas range from the length of the president's term in office and the number and terms of Supreme Court justices to the vagaries of the antiquated Electoral College, and a compelling call for universal national serviceall laced through with the history behind each proposal and the potential impact on the lives of ordinary people. Aware that such changes won't happen easily, but that the original Framers fully expected the Constitution to be regularly revised, Sabato urges us to engage in the debate and discussion his ideas will surely engender. During a presidential election year, no book is more relevant or significant than this.

Author Biography

Larry J. Sabato is the acclaimed founder and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia

Table of Contents

Preamble	p. 1
Creating a Capital Congress	p. 19
Reforming the Senate	p. 23
Reforming the House	p. 32
Congressional Term Limits: Extreme or Mainstream?	p. 41
Balancing the Budget: Setting the Stage for a Great Convention Debate	p. 54
Continuity of Government: Preparing for the Unthinkable	p. 69
Perfecting the Presidency	p. 76
The Presidential Term of Choice	p. 80
The Six-Year Term	p. 84
The Alternative: A Presidential Confirmation Election	p. 87
A Lengthened House Term (and Changes in the Senate Term)	p. 93
War-Making Limits: Presidential Downsizing	p. 97
Item Veto	p. 101
Fairness for All: Making the Presidency Possible for Americans Who Are Not "Natural-Born"	p. 104
The New Courts: Supreme But not Eternal	p. 108
The Error of Lifetime Tenure	p. 110
Fixed Terms	p. 115
Not-So-Early Retirement	p. 116
A Balanced Bench	p. 117
Power of the Purse	p. 118
Politics: America's Missing Constitutional Link	p. 121
Of Parties, Presidential Politics, and the Quadrennial Orgy	p. 123
The Regional Lottery Plan for the New Constitution	p. 131
The Electoral College: Mend It, Don't End It	p. 134
Adding Some Political Rules of the Game for the Twenty-first Century	p. 152
A Citizenship of Service: Asking what we can do for our Country ... and Ourselves	p. 154
An American History of Service: Military Calls and Civilian Supplements	p. 157
The Case for Universal National Service (UNS)	p. 166
Universal National Service and America's Future	p. 176
Vox Populi: What do the People Think of Constitutional Change?	p. 179
The Caution Light Blinks Steadily	p. 181
Dissatisfaction with the Status Quo	p. 183
Look Who's Talking	p. 186
Rasmussen Poll on the Proposed New Constitution	p. 190
Calling the Twenty-First-Century Constitutional Convention	p. 198
The Founders' Daring-and Our Timidity	p. 199
The Legal Netherworld Surrounding a New Convention	p. 202
Setting the Ground Rules Prior to the Convention	p. 205
Calling the Convention	p. 211
After the Convention: Ratification and Its Aftermath	p. 216
Conclusion: Getting There from Here	p. 221
Afterword	p. 233
United States Constitution and Amendments	p. 237
Acknowledgments	p. 261
Notes	p. 263
Selected Bibliography	p. 327
Index	p. 335
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