Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2016

Constitutional Literacy

A Twenty-First Century Imperative

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Identifies eight levels of constitutional literacy, thus offering an ostensive definitionthat exists in a continuum from basic literacy to the scholarly literacy that one would expect of the Supreme Court justices

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
  2. Introduction

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 1-8
  3. The Nature of Constitutional Literacy

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 9-41
  4. The Lack of Constitutional Literacy

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 43-75
  5. The Value of Constitutional Literacy

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 77-117
  6. Assessing Constitutional Literacy

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 119-182
  7. Improving Constitutional Literacy

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 183-223
  8. Conclusion

    • Christopher Dreisbach
    Pages 225-230
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 231-241

About this book

This book considers the status of constitutional literacy in the United States along with ways to assess and improve it. The author argues that pervasive constitutional illiteracy is a problem for both law enforcement agencies and for ordinary citizens. Based on the author’s decades of teaching in law enforcement agencies around the country, this book argues for the moral and pragmatic value of constitutional literacy and its application in twenty-first century society. 

 

Reviews

“While much has been written about the Constitution, this elegant book importantly fills a significant gap, aspiring to a greater public constitutional literacy.  To read it is a must for those wishing to participate in the discussion.  And what discussion could be more important and, today, more relevant to the well-being of the body politic?  I recommend this to anyone even remotely participating in the continuing order founded in the Constitution.” (Paul V. Niemeyer, United States Circuit Judge)

“In this book, Dreisbach gives an interesting glimpse of the US Constitution from creation to today’s frequent misinterpretation and misapplication by officials sworn to uphold it. Dreisbach raises a pivotal question: can a proclaimed defender of the Constitution-- elected, appointed, or sworn--do so when lacking a basic understanding of it? A critical issue for those empowered to restrict people’s liberty. A must read for all in law enforcement.​” (Tony Narr, Captain, Prince Georges County, MD Police (retired), and Director of Management Education, Police Executive Research Forum, USA) 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, USA

    Christopher Dreisbach

About the author

Christopher Dreisbach is Associate Professor, Faculty Lead, and Director of applied ethics and humanities for the Division of Public Safety Leadership in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University, USA. He lectures on ethics for law enforcement agencies and has published widely on ethics, logic, education, dreams, and Collingwood.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Constitutional Literacy

  • Book Subtitle: A Twenty-First Century Imperative

  • Authors: Christopher Dreisbach

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56799-4

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York

  • eBook Packages: Political Science and International Studies, Political Science and International Studies (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-56798-7Published: 20 September 2016

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-93389-1Published: 02 November 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-56799-4Published: 19 September 2016

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 241

  • Topics: Political Science

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access