Civil Liberties and the State: A Documentary and Reference Guide

by Christopher Peter Latimer

Overview

This book covers documents and related information pertaining to civil liberties in America, including the debates over arbitrary state action, due process, equal protection, freedom of speech, and privacy issues.

The USA PATRIOT Act, the actions and free speech of the Ku Klux Klan, and the use of privately owned devices with GPS by law enforcement are all highly controversial topics that fall under the blanket of civil liberties and federal or state authority—subjects that are important to most Americans.

This book provides a comprehensive examination of arbitrary state action post-September 11, 2001, combining detailed examinations of specific legislation with watershed coverage of issues such as freedom of speech, press, and religion as well as various aspects of criminal law and procedure. This text presents documents from Britain, the American colonial period, the Founding period, and the modern era, including recent Supreme Court cases. The author provides an accompanying analysis of each document, providing insightful historical context and ramifications of the decisions and the laws passed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313379345
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/01/2010
Series:	Documentary and Reference Guides
Pages:	367
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Christopher Peter Latimer, PhD, is assistant professor of political science at the State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY.

Editorial Reviews

Useful for researchers looking for pertinent excerpts.” —Library Jourbanal

“This work should facilitate understanding of the concept of civil liberties and encourage new scholarship. Included are a chronology and annotated list of Web sites. Summing Up: Highly recommended.” —Choice

“Although the primary sources and accompanying analysis are the most valuable part of the content, 20 sidebars also contribute to readers' understanding of the documents, their creators, or the circumstances under which they were written. Especially useful to students in Advanced Placement government courses.” —School Library Jourbanal

From the Publisher

Many ways of life have changed following the attacks of 9/11. Part of ABC-CLIO's "Documentary and Reference Guides" series, this set presents a review of historical documents displaying how liberties have been granted or withheld in light of the tension between our desires for security and wish for liberty. Through excerpts of historical documents such as executive orders, congressional legislation, and judicial decision, the seven-chapter organization devised by Latimer (political science, SUNY Cortland) reviews how the government worked to implement or oppose legislation restricting people's rights. Each document is followed by a brief author's analysis of the importance of the material, touching on topics such as what consequences the documents had, why they were created, and whether they are still in effect. Chapters 1 and 2 present documents from U.S. history as well as influential British documents such as the Magna Charta and the British Bill of Rights. Chapters 3 and 4 cover federal actions in both world wars and the Cold War. Chapters 5 and 6 cover federal actions following 9/11. Chapter 7 contains excerpts from political organizations including the Republican and Democratic National Committees expressing their views on liberties. BOTTOM LINE While useful for researchers looking for pertinent excerpts, this lacks in-depth analysis of the materials, most of which can be easily located online in full. Readers looking for more debate about the subject may be interested in Civil Liberties (2009), part of Gale/Greenhaven's "Opposing Viewpoints" series.—James Langan, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Covering what has become a controversial topic in the post-9/11 United States, Latimer provides 81 historical documents illustrating the history of due process, equal protection, the right to privacy, and the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The chronological presentation opens with the Magna Carta and closes with portions of the 2008 Democratic and Republican parties' respective "Party Platform Concerning Civil Liberties." The entry for each piece contains a brief outline of the document; the primary source or an excerpt from it; an analysis, including significance, context, and consequences; and further-reading recommendations. Although the primary sources and accompanying analysis are the most valuable part of the content, 20 sidebars also contribute to readers' understanding of the documents, their creators, or the circumstances under which they were written. Especially useful to students in Advanced Placement government courses.—Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN

School Library Journal