First Amendment, Freedom of Speech: Its Constitutional History and the Contemporary Debate (Bill of Rights)

First Amendment, Freedom of Speech: Its Constitutional History and the Contemporary Debate (Bill of Rights) by Amar, Vikram David. paperback edition. ISBN: 9781591026327.

This volume collects, edits and presents some of the most important classic and cutting-edge thinking on the constitutional freedom of speech. Students of law, political science, or any other person interested in understanding the basics of American self-government will be able to see the important themes, values, conflicts, and possible resolutions concerning this, our most cherished, democratic freedom.Editor Vikram David Amar has organized the collection into three major sections: historical foundations, theoretical paradigms, and selected doctrinal battlegrounds. Within this framework, he has selected some of the most significant works that address these various themes, including: William Blackstones classic "Commentaries on the Laws of England" (1769) and Zacharia Chaffees timeless essay "Free Speech in War Time" (1919), as well as works from more contemporary constitutional giants such as Cass Sunsteins "Free Speech Now" (1992), Alexander Meiklejohns "The First Amendment is an Absolute" (1961), Kathleen Sullivans "Political Money and Freedom of Speech" (1997), and many more influential articles.At a time when America is trying to export democracy abroad and preserve it at home against a backdrop of international security concerns, figuring out how society should permit its citizens to identify and represent themselves and come together to deliberate collectively is arguably more crucial now than ever before.