Now more than ever, The Constitution Study – Returning the Constitution to We the People, written by Paul Engel, is a much-needed resource.
Government was my least favorite class in high school. Learning about the branches and laws and elections and politics could not hold my attention. As I have gotten older, though, I have come to appreciate the role each of these things has in securing our freedoms. Far too often, I think, the American people have taken for granted the liberties we have. Worse yet, many people are not fully aware of what those liberties are.
John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States, said, “Every member of the State ought diligently to read and study the Constitution of his country and teach the rising generation to be free. By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated, and be better prepared to defend and assert them.” It was for this purpose that Paul Engel wrote this book. He realized how little he had been taught about our Constitution. Mr. Engel began to listen to teachers and podcasts, but more importantly, he began to read and study the original documents that are the basis of our nation. The more he learned, the more frustrated he got. Ultimately, he learned how much people do not know about this subject and how much most people do not care.
They are not long documents, yet how many people have read them? An average reader can read the Constitution in twenty minutes and the Declaration of Independence in five. I assume it is not their length but subject matter that deters people. Because many believe it is difficult to understand, Paul started holding study groups to encourage people to read the Constitution, discuss it, and share their opinions. This passion led him to record his notes in one book to reach more people.
The Constitution Study – Returning the Constitution to We the People takes the reader through both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Line by line, phrase by phrase, paragraph by paragraph–the wording is included and explained, as necessary. Engel explains why our Founding Fathers declared independence, how they formed the nation, and what rights they established by using their own words. He categorizes the study into chapters for each amendment and breaks down the sections and clauses. Using examples, definitions from the time, and past events, he helps the reader easily understand these vital documents.
This paperback book has a striking cover and 385 pages. While the principles within should be taught to all ages, the writing is geared toward upper teens and adults. I plan to use this book as the foundation of a government class for my high schooler next year. As we work through it and discuss the points together, my aim is that he takes an interest in this topic while he is young and fights to protect our freedoms.
“If we want to change Washington, we must first take responsibility for the state that it is in and for our lack of knowledge about how it should work.” — Paul Engel
Engel ends the book with a charge. Do not just read the book and stop there. Continue to study and develop personal ways to describe what the Constitution says and teach others. As John Jay said, let us “teach the rising generation to be free.”
Product review by Erika Leaf, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March 2021
