The Constitution in Exile: How the Federal Government Has Seized Power by Rewriting the Supreme Law of the Land

Napolitano, New Jersey Superior Court Judge and analyst for Fox News, explains how the federal government has manipulated the Constitution to take power from the states and the people. Written for a general audience, Napolitano's book also includes a brief history of the founding of the United States, the Bill of Rights, the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution and an explanation of relevant legal precedents. Napolitano's nonpartisan apprehension toward a strong central government is clear as he takes issue with both Democratic and Republican legislative initiatives, including the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1992, the Patriot Act, attempted FCC regulation of HDTV sets and the retention of Yasser Hamdi and Jose Padilla. However, the book is disappointingly sparse on ways to fix the problems he decries; after 240 pages of citing issue after shortcoming after perversion of founding fathers' intents, he hurries through a six point plan (in just over a page) that involves rewriting the Constitution so the preamble begins ""We the States,"" abolishing the popular election of senators and allowing states to secede from the union and enjoy territory status sans ""a federal boot on their throats."" His conversational tone and historical perspective make his argument accessible to general readers who are interested in current events but turned off by wonky pundits.