Get our latest staff recommendations, award news and digital catalog links right to your inbox.
The Conscience of the Constitution
The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty
Published by Cato Institute
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
"Now the nation no longer lacks what it has long needed, a slender book that lucidly explains the intensity of conservatism's disagreements with progressivism."--George Will, The Washington Post
Is liberty or democracy the primary constitutional value? At a time when Americans are increasingly facing violations of their civil liberties, Timothy Sandefur's insightful book explains why the Declaration of Independence, with its doctrines on the primacy of liberty, the natural rights of man, and the limits on legitimate government, should serve as the guidepost for understanding the Constitution. The author takes the reader through the ideas of substantive due process and judicial activism and defends them from mainstream criticisms while drawing on examples from literature, television, and Supreme Court cases. The Conscience of the Constitution: The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty argues that modern legal doctrines, which value democracy over liberty, are endangering individual rights and corrupting our civic institutions.
Is liberty or democracy the primary constitutional value? At a time when Americans are increasingly facing violations of their civil liberties, Timothy Sandefur's insightful book explains why the Declaration of Independence, with its doctrines on the primacy of liberty, the natural rights of man, and the limits on legitimate government, should serve as the guidepost for understanding the Constitution. The author takes the reader through the ideas of substantive due process and judicial activism and defends them from mainstream criticisms while drawing on examples from literature, television, and Supreme Court cases. The Conscience of the Constitution: The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty argues that modern legal doctrines, which value democracy over liberty, are endangering individual rights and corrupting our civic institutions.
Product Details
- Publisher: Cato Institute (April 16, 2015)
- Length: 200 pages
- ISBN13: 9781939709691
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"Now the nation no longer lacks what it has long needed, a slender book that lucidly explains the intensity of conservatism's disagreements with progressivism. For the many Americans who are puzzled and dismayed by the heatedness of political argument today, the message of Timothy Sandefur's 'The Conscience of the Constitution: The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty' is this: The temperature of today's politics is commensurate to the stakes of today's argument."
– George F. Will, Washington Post, The Washington Post
“Expertly combining law, history, and political philosophy, Timothy Sandefur offers both a powerful defense of the Constitution and a winning case for why the Supreme Court is duty-bound to protect a wide range of individual rights from the grasp of overreaching majorities.”
– Damon Root, Reason Magazine
“This is an excellent book. I was just going to write it myself.... This book should be in everyone's library.”
– Hadley Arkes, Amherst College
"'The Conscience of the Constitution' posits a role for the Fourteenth Amendment in protecting natural rights from abuse at both the federal and state level. It is a great defense of individual liberty."
– Sen. Rand Paul
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): The Conscience of the Constitution
Trade Paperback 9781939709691
The Conscience of the Constitution
The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty
Published by Cato Institute
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Join our mailing list!
By clicking 'Sign me up' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the privacy policy and terms of use.
