The Upside-Down Constitution

Over the course of the nation's history, the Constitution has been turned upside-down, Michael Greve argues in this provocative book. The Constitution's vision of a federalism in which local, state, and federal government compete to satisfy the preferences of individuals has given way to a cooperative, cartelized federalism that enables interest groups to leverage power at every level for their own benefit. Greve traces this inversion from the Constitution's founding through today, dispelling much received wisdom along the way. The Upside-Down Constitution shows how federalism's transformation was a response to states' demands, not an imposition on them. From the nineteenth-century judicial elaboration of a competitive federal order, to the New Deal transformation, to the contemporary Supreme Court's impoverished understanding of constitutional structure, and the "devolution" in vogue today, Greve describes a trend that will lead to more government and fiscal profligacy, not less. Taking aim at both the progressive heirs of the New Deal and the vocal originalists of our own time, The Upside-Down Constitution explains why the current fiscal crisis will soon compel a fundamental renegotiation of a new federalism grounded in constitutional principles.

ISBN 0674061918   Pages 528 ISBN13 9780674061910 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 885 Publisher Harvard University Press   Published in Cambridge, Mass Imprint Harvard University Press   Height (mm) 235 Format Hardback   Width (mm) 155 Publication date 17 Feb 2012   Spine width (mm) 36 DEWEY 342.73042   Academic level General, Postgraduate DEWEY edition DC23

If there is to be a recovery of the Constitution's federalism, it will involve a retreat by the federal courts from the culture wars and, simultaneously, a renewed commitment by them to policing the boundaries of state authority over national commerce. A precondition for any such recovery is the conservative intellectual reorientation that Greve is attempting to advance. Thoughtful conservatives understand, as he notes, that the free market is not the same thing as "the opportunistic demands of the Fortune 500." They ought to begin distinguishing as well between federalism and the desires of state governments. -- Ramesh Ponnuru National Review online 20120326 Marvelous and challenging. -- Mario Loyola National Review online 20120629 Greve portrays an ever-increasing trend that will lead to more and more government and to greater fiscal recklessness. He approaches his subject from a historical perspective and with careful systematic documentation. In a very well-written concluding essay, the author discusses where the nation is at the current moment and offers solutions to the current situation. -- R. A. Carp Choice 20120801

 Be the first to write a customer review