The Year of Living Constitutionally

One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Constitution's Original Meaning

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I read A. J. Jacobs' book The Puzzler back in 2022 and enjoyed it quite a bit. This one, not so much, but it's very readable, and has some good stories.

Mr. Jacobs' gimmick here is to live a year of his life "consitutionally". Which can mean various things, of course, especially if you are Joe Biden or Donald Trump. But Mr. Jacobs took to wearing a tricorne hat (pictured on the cover), and engaged in numerous imaginative (I assume publisher-financed) deeds of patriotic significance. He participated in a Revolutionary War reenactment, "dying" early, but in a shady spot. He proposed a Constitutional amendment to a polite Senator, which would expand the presidency to three people. (You may have noticed that didn't happen.) He visits Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Constitution was written and signed.

One of the better stories is his exploration of the Third Amendment, the one about soldiers getting quartered in a house without the owner's consent. Jacobs wants to give consent, and wangles a visit! The Army officer he billets is of Indian descent, dines on some authentic 18th-century British food (shepherd's pie) but needs to spice it up a bit with some Mexican hot sauce.

Might be the most American scenario ever.

Unreasonable searches by state agents? Apparently you can make your statement to the TSA before your next flight by buying underwear with "Read the 4th Amendment, Perverts" emblazoned with metallic ink, so it will show up on the x-ray.

Jacobs is a solid Democrat, and this (unfortunately) colors a lot of his commentary, which has a definite blue tinge. For example, the SCOTUS decision in Sackett v. EPA? Jacobs summarizes that it "pared back the power of the EPA to monitor wetlands". I'd suggest reading some analysis that more accurately describes the issue. Other issues are handled similarly: superficially and clearly D-biased.