书名：The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States 独立宣言与美国宪法
难度：Lexile蓝思阅读指数890
作者：Pauline Maier
出版社名称：Bantam Classic
出版时间：1998
语种： 英文
ISBN：9780553214826
商品尺寸：10.7 x 0.8 x 17.4 cm
包装：平装
页数：98

《美国独立宣言》为北美洲十三个英属殖民地宣告自大不列颠王国独立，并宣明此举正当性之文告，是美国重要立国文书之一。《美利坚合众国宪法》，美国的根本大法，奠定了美国政治制度的法律基础，是世界上首部比较完整的资产阶级成文宪法，也是西方宪法史上的经典性蓝本之一。The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States《独立宣言与美国宪法》适合有一定英语水平的法学专业学生、美国政治研究者、SAT考生、英语爱好者阅读；
推荐理由：
1.美国重要建国文献，了解美国基本常识的必读知识手册；
2.原汁原味，语言精辟且充满力量，对学习英语有较大帮助；
3.英文原版无删节，小巧便携，方便随时阅读。
Here in a single volume are the two most important American documents ever written together embodying in timeless prose the promise and fulfillment of representative government. With a luminous introduction by America’s premier scholar of the American Revolution, Pauline Maier, this authoritative Bantam Classic edition contains the entire text of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Bill of Rights and successive constitutional amendments.

The Declaration of Independencewas the promise of a representative government; the Constitution was the fulfillment of that promise.
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress issued a unanimous declaration: the thirteen North American colonies would be the thirteen United States of America, free and independent of Great Britain. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration set forth the terms of a new form of government with the following words: “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Framed in 1787 and in effect since March 1789, the Constitution of the United States of America fulfilled the promise of the Declaration by establishing a republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, became part of the Constitution on December 15, 1791. Among the rights guaranteed by these amendments are freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to trial by jury. Written so that it could be adapted to endure for years to come, the Constitution has been amended only seventeen times since 1791 and has lasted longer than any other written form of government.

Pauline Maier is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of American History at MIT and the author of several books and textbooks on American history, including American Scripture, which was on the New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice list of the best 11 books of 1997 and a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award.

INTRODUCTION BY Pauline Maier
NOTES TO THE INTRODUCTION
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES
THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DATES TO REMEMBER
INDEX TO CONSTITUTION AND AMENDMENTS