Every American should read this in its entirety as an adult and after it was (maybe) required by schooling.

Biggest takeaway: The Founding Fathers spelled choose “chuse”.
Seriously, though, definitely worth a read or reread if you, like me, haven’t done so since school.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

Heard on audiobook. Despite the dryness of the constitution, the narrator made it interesting. I really enjoyed the Declaration of Independence & the Bill of Rights/amendments.

I actually learned a great deal, reading the original text of the Constitution. For instance, The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. Thus, in effect, Congress elects the President, in the event that no clear winner is found in the election; and the Vice-President is appointed similarly.
Much space is given to discussion of how officials should be appointed, and how often meet, and be replaced where necessary - the actual powers of each office receive very little attention. However, in the Amendments to the Constitution, the reverse is true - in each case, excepting the abolition of slavery, the powers employed by public representatives are either reduced, clarified, or increased. An interesting tendency. I was initially puzzled to find no mention of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, but discovered he was in Paris, France, having an affair with Maria Cosway, when the Constitution was written and ratified.

Good time to revisit

It's pretty ingenious. Especially since nothing had ever been created like it beforehand. The thing that surprised me most is that it only defines the way men are elected and installed into their positions of government, and then broadly defines their roles. I thought it would be far more specific in discussing what each section of government is supposed to do... Maybe that's why powers are so broadly expressed and used today.

I guess one could say these ideas were revolutionary for their time.

Will an American lose his citizenship if he one-stars this book?

Classic literature. Good enough on which to base a system of government. Worth reading again and again. Should be required reading. Immigrants are more familiar with this work than most "native-born" citizens... isn't that ironic? Highly recommend this one!

It's thoughtless propaganda that the constitution is rated close to five-stars here. Clearly written for rich white guys to govern farmers at a time when a pony is the fastest method of communication known to man, it definitely could use some improvement. I'm also pissed TJ misspelled Pennsylvania, but hey, small potatoes compared with calling every other living human on the continent either savages or property.