THE FIRST AMENDMENT

In an entry in the Constitution series, this tedious, though up-to-date, discussion covers the history of the First Amendment, the rights it guarantees, and how it works (or is supposed to work): to limit government more than it does the individual. Farish (Tinker v. Des Moines, p. 141, etc.) points out that the First Amendment is only one sentence long, that ``many thousands of legal cases have interpreted it,'' and that the debate over its meaning and application continues in such arenas as the JonBenet Ramsey case, the O.J. Simpson trial, and the Internet. While this book presents an abundance of information, the writing and discussions are not crisp nor focused enough; there are numerous repetitions, as well as many missed opportunities to make clear the significance of the First Amendment. Discussion questions help readers apply First Amendment rights to a variety of issues, and the text of the Constitution is reproduced; but Farish does not do justice to her main subject nor articulate its relevance today. (b&w photos, not seen, notes, glossary, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 11-13)