Human Rights Of, By, and For the People: How to Critique and Change the US Constitution

Book Details
• Author: Iyall Smith, Keri
• Brand: Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Edition: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• Format: Illustrated
• Number of Pages: 200
• Release Date: 24-02-2017
• EAN: 9781138204188
• Package Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Languages: English

• Examines the US Constitution and Bill of Rights as the foundational but outdated governing documents of the United States.
• Proposes updating these documents through contributions by lawyers and sociologists, aligning US law more closely with international human rights law, especially inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
• Discusses the distinction between "negative rights" (freedoms from infringement) and "positive rights" (affirmations of personhood and dignity), advocating for the latter.
• Uses frameworks such as intersectionality, critical race theory, and critiques of economic inequality to ground the proposals in sociological arguments.
• Explores the constitutional tensions among branches of government and federal-state relations, highlighting how constitutions are shaped by culture and society.