| Overruling Democracy: The Supreme Court vs. | | | | assault on the political rights of the people. This |
| The American People is a controversial work by | | | | book is required reading for every citizen who |
| Doctor Jamin B. Raskin, professor of constitutional | | | | cares about the fate of our democracy." |
| law at American university. His writings have been | | | | Raskin focusing on Bush vs. Gore (2000) "Taking |
| published in Washington post, Los Angeles Times, | | | | on the elitist and reactionary impulses of |
| The Nation, The American Prospect, The | | | | contemporary conservatism, Overruling |
| Washington Monthly, The American Lawyer, Legal | | | | Democracy lays out a compelling plan for "we the |
| Times and George and Slate. Also he is author of | | | | people" to overrule the Court with some basic |
| We the Students. The present book had been | | | | constitutional changes in the new century. Raskin's |
| published in 2003 by Routledge (Taylor & | | | | aggressive to "constitutional patriotism" shows the |
| Francis Books Inc.) with the ISBN: 0415934397 | | | | way forward to a more democratic constitution, |
| and 27.50$ price in US. | | | | judiciary and nation." |
| The book includes ten chapters in 242 pages, | | | | In his presentation Raskin asks for revising |
| bibliographical references as endnote and index. | | | | constitution by adding an amendment so called |
| Each chapter begins with a prelude from famous | | | | "Right to Vote" amendment, as he believes there |
| Americans quotations on America. As it's obvious | | | | is no real democratic franchise in a document |
| from the title, its debate in on political questions | | | | which states 3/5 portion for Men. He also |
| concerning the issue of democracy according to | | | | recommends for general election in presidency |
| the Constitution and rulings of the Supreme Court | | | | campaign in which the president must be chosen |
| in the United Stats of America. The books had | | | | out of all 18-aged and older people direct vote and |
| been published in a hardback and strong binding | | | | of course not in electoral system; in his |
| which it self resembles the seriousness of legal | | | | suggestion every individual candidate who can gain |
| issues. On front cover a standing double-headed | | | | at least 50% of the ballot regardless of his/her |
| hammer is figured which can be a metaphor for | | | | affiliation to any major, minor or no political party |
| doubt and hesitation in Supreme Court decision | | | | would be the President of the United States of |
| making which is in dilemma on which head should | | | | America. Raskin offers that if none of candidates |
| be hammered. | | | | could get the half ballot, the last candidate's votes |
| Brian P. Marron in his review of the work asserts: | | | | in ranking should be shared to others and this |
| "In Overruling Democracy, Professor Jamin Raskin | | | | process should be continued till one can gain the |
| discusses how the Supreme Court has failed to | | | | criterion. |
| enforce basic political rights by subordinating | | | | E.J Dionne author of Why Americans Hate Politics |
| democratic principles inherent in the Constitution. | | | | and They only Look Dead: Why Progressives Will |
| The Court tolerates the usurpation of popular | | | | Dominate the Next Political Era has a thinkable |
| sovereignty through the manipulation of the | | | | view about this book. He Says: |
| electoral process. The Court also fails to protect | | | | "American democracy thrives because people like |
| the functioning of democratic principles in our | | | | Jamin Raskin, an eloquent, thoughtful, and |
| everyday lives in cases dealing with schools and | | | | provocative small-d democrat, insist on reminding |
| corporations. Throughout the book, Raskin offers | | | | us of our aspirations to equality and rule by the |
| several solutions to the democracy deficit, | | | | people. You may disagree with some of his ideas, |
| including several proposed constitutional | | | | as I do, and still come away refreshed and even |
| amendments to clearly enshrine democratic rights. | | | | electrified. The old issue was liberal judicial activism. |
| However, the issues are presented in such a | | | | The new issue is a conservative judicial activism |
| manner that may undermine the book's | | | | that could constrain the ability of the democratic |
| effectiveness as a tool for building support for a | | | | branches of our government to solve public |
| democracy reform movement." | | | | problems. For liberals, Raskin says, 'it is time to let |
| This book of course not as a handbook but as a | | | | go of any lingering nostalgic enchantment with the |
| really informative one can be useful for those | | | | Supreme Court.' He's right." |
| with democracy concerns especially in modern | | | | In general this work at least gives new visions on |
| United States context. As John Sweeney | | | | issue of American democracy and this point that |
| president of the AFL-CIO had echoed about this | | | | whether it's is appropriate kind of peoples' |
| book: | | | | consenting or just a mocking oligarchy in disguise |
| "A gripping book about the Supreme Court's | | | | of democracy. |