Thorburn, Mark. The President and the Executive Branch.

Thorburn, Mark.   The President and the Executive Branch.  Enslow 104p  $31.93  978-0-7660-4063-2     jr/sr   Series: Constitution and US Government (Enslow)  VG-BNS      

This book covers the working of the executive branch, that is, the president of the United States and all his duties.  Under the presidency one finds that sixteen departments and the vice president’s office.  The departments include Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Energy, Defense, and Agriculture.  Then you have the other departments: Justice, Labor, the Treasury, State, Interior, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs.  The last one on the list is Independent Agencies and Government Corporations.

The book goes on to illustrate examples of situations the president has had to deal with, and basically explains the job of the president of the United States.

The book includes an index, photographs, illustrations, historical facts, internet addresses, a bibliography, a glossary and a list of the men who have been the president of the United States.    

other titles in the series are The United States Constitution, The Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch, The United States Congress and the Legislative Branch, and The Security Agencies of the United States.                     -- Magna Diaz

Streissguth, Tom. Security Agencies of the United States.

Streissguth, Tom.  Security Agencies of the United States.  Enslow      104p  $31.93  978-0-7660-4064-9  ms/hs  Series: Constitution and US Government (Enslow)   VG-BN

     

The federal governmental organizations that are responsible for the safety and security of the United States are the topics of this book.  Presented are the Department of Homeland Security, OSS & Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).      Well written and documented, the book puts together a very interesting history of the major federal organizations responsible for the security of this nation. Beginning with the history of each organization, the author then talks about how each one is structured and functions, and the importance of the individuals within each one.  Interspersed are the key events that were the impetus for the creation of each organization, and the role that it played in investigating some of the most pivotal events in 20th-century America.  Well-captioned photographs are found throughout the book, adjacent to the text to which they relate.  A timeline, glossary, chapter notes, a list of references for further reading, internet addresses and an index conclude the book.

The series Constitution and US Government is an excellent collection of five titles addressing the U.S. Constitution and the various branches and organizations of the U.S. government: The President and the Executive Branch, The Security Agencies of the United States, The Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch, The United States Congress and the Legislative Branch, and The United States Constitution.  This series is well written and thoroughly documented, as each book contains extensive chapter notes, as well as print and web resources.

This book is a highly-recommended addition for any middle-school and high-school library collection, as well as public-library collections.    -- Lynn Fisher   

Madani, Hamed. Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch.

Madani, Hamed.    Supreme Court and the Judicial Branch.    Enslow      104p  $31.93  978-0-7660-4065-6     ms/hs   Series: Constitution and US Government (Enslow)   VG-BNS           

This book provides an overview of the Supreme Court of the United States.     Tying in to the topical interest in elections in a year when a presidential election is to take place, Madani initially focuses on the historic but controversial decision handed down by the United States Supreme Court over the 2000 presidential election.  This example establishes the impact that the courts can have on issues of great importance. 

The next section reviews the organization and responsibilities of the judiciary branch of the federal government.  Broken into short sections, this is dry material for a casual reader, but it contains relevant information for student researchers.  Diagrams, illustrations, and color photographs are included where appropriate, in an effort to enliven the text.

Specific events and personalities that shaped the history and direction of the judiciary comprise the third chapter.  It begins with the first act of Congress, which established the federal judiciary, and ends with the current Supreme Court under the leadership of newly-appointed Chief Justice John Roberts.  Other highlights include informative stories about John Marshall, the impeachment of Samuel Chase, the Dred Scott decision, Brown versus the Board of Education, and others.

The roles and duties of individuals associated with the judiciary are described in Chapter Four.  This includes past and present chief justices, associate justices, and Supreme Court law clerks.

The next chapter explores what the judiciary does today.  While the court interprets law, the judges may influence policy when they perform this function.  Madani discusses constitutional interpretation, especially as it touches on original intent.  Other topics include judicial review, imposing remedies, resolution of disputes, class-action suits, and rules of procedures.

America is a litigious society.  With high-profile legal cases headlined in the news on a daily basis, and more than ten million civil disputes in the nation’s courts annually, readers will be prompted to learn more about the legal process.  Student researchers will find this volume a valuable source of solid, up-to-the-minute information enhanced by a short index, suggested books and web sites for additional information, and a handy glossary.          -- Hilary Welliver