A More Perfect Constitution or The Confrontation

A More Perfect Constitution: 23 Proposals to Revitalize Our Constitution and Make America a Fairer Country

Author: Larry J Sabato

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 Constitution presents 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 service—all 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.

The New York Times - Robert A. Dahl

A reluctance to engage in public discussions that might challenge the prevailing view of the Constitution as a sacred document will doubtless inhibit debate on Mr. Sabato's proposals. This is not to say that they should all be adopted. But without a public discussion of proposals like this, too many American citizens will be unable to understand the virtues and problems of our Constitution and how it might be improved.

Publishers Weekly

Sabato, founder of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, ventures bravely into the controversial waters of constitutional reform. Sabato argues that the founders never intended the Constitution to be timeless, but rather understood that "government structures, ossified by constitutional neglect [can] become fundamentally unfair and tilted to those already in power." Sabato's reforms are consistent with the values he believes underpin the Constitution-fairness, idealism, pragmatism and focus on the needs of the present and the future-while attempting to mitigate social inequities. His lucid if unorthodox suggestions include a single six-year presidential term that could be extended another two years by referendum; limiting federal and Supreme Court justices to a 15-year term; a larger House of Representatives that would, among other benefits, allow for greater diversity in Congress. His reforms encompass the entire citizenry, who would be required to perform two years of national civilian or military service in what he calls a "Bill of Responsibilities." While there's room for skepticism and unintended consequences in some of his suggestions, Sabato makes strong, cogent arguments. (Oct.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Michael O. Eshleman - Library Journal

A familiar talking head on TV, Sabato (founder, Ctr. for Politics, Univ. of Virginia; The Sixth Year Itch: The Rise and Fall of George W. Bush's Presidency) doesn't actually propose anything that hasn't already been suggested to improve the Constitution: ex-presidents should get senate seats for life, judges should not have terms for life, mandatory national service should be revived, etc. Of course, the chances of any of these ever being voted on by Congress, let alone ratified by the states, is nil, yet they are all interesting and well conveyed here. This is food for thought deserving a place in public libraries.

School Library Journal

Adult/High School-The author has considerable respect for the Founding Fathers and makes level-headed, convincing arguments that they fully expected the Constitution to undergo revisions periodically. He leaves the Bill of Rights untouched in his proposals for change and focuses on the structure of government: Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court. The Senate, for example, would be more representative by granting the 10 most populous states two more senators, and the next 15 one additional senator each. Sabato also proposes that the Constitution should have a "Bill of Responsibilities"-a national service requirement (think Peace Corps, VISTA, AmeriCorps). Back matter includes the full text of the document. Extensive chapter notes are awkward to follow due to the use of sometimes lengthy Roman numerals. The issues presented here will make for exciting discussions and debates in social studies classes.-Paula Dacker, Charter Oak High School, CA

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Table of Contents:

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

Book about: The Principles of Running or Im Not in the Mood

The Confrontation: Defeating the Next Generation of Jihad

Author: Walid Phares

In Future Jihad, terrorism and Middle East expert Walid Phares gave a definitive account of the historical and cultural forces that led to September 11 and the rise of radical Islam. In The War of Ideas, he revealed the conflict of ideologies that underlie the War on Terror. Now, in The Confrontation, he identifies the clashes to come and provides a blueprint for defeating the forces of jihad. Moving from the ravaged villages of the Sudan to London’s Muslim neighborhoods to the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, he illuminates the vast and complex world of the global jihadist movement. He offers a multi-pronged strategy, global in scope, and calls on the world’s diverse local and international institutions to come together and coordinate their efforts. Pointing the way forward, this book shows how we might reclaim a world that is safe for freedom and democratic societies.