Making our Democracy Work

Critics

• A justice explains the mysteries and mechanics of the high court

  Stephen Breyer, who as a Supreme Court justice has an unusually acute appreciation for precedent, will surely agree that this is unprecedented: a review that urges readers to begin a book at the very end before plunging into the body of the text. In ... (read full critics)

  boston published on Fri, 24 Sep 2010

1 Review

• 

  Thoughtful and interesting

  In "Making our Democracy Work," Justice Breyer expands upon his treatise "Active Liberty" with several interesting examples of how the Judiciary established its role, and how it needs to act to maintain credibility as the guarantor of liberties established in the Constitution. Justice Breyer's uses ... (continue)

  In "Making our Democracy Work," Justice Breyer expands upon his treatise "Active Liberty" with several interesting examples of how the Judiciary established its role, and how it needs to act to maintain credibility as the guarantor of liberties established in the Constitution. Justice Breyer's uses counter examples, such as Dred Scott, showing the Court doesn't always get it right (and history may hold one of the negative reviews here correct with a couple more counter examples).

  I had hoped this work would expand a bit more on the role of the citizen in making our democracy work, but Justice Breyer really only pays lip service to this in the Conclusion. Still, illuminating the role of the weakest branch of government through the lens of some of our history's most important and controversial cases provides a fascinating peek into the function of the court.

  The thoughtfulness that goes into deciding cases should make us all thankful that the Founding Fathers had the foresight to implement independent checks and balances in the American form of government.

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  Andyberschauer said on Nov 15, 2010 | Add your feedback

Book Details

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• English Books
• Hardcover 270 Pages
• ISBN-10: 0307269914
• ISBN-13: 9780307269911
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Pub date: Jan 01, 2010
• Also available as: Others

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