American Constitutional Law: Essays, Cases, and Comparative NotesAmerican Constitutional Law: Essays, Cases, and Comparative Notes is a unique casebook that encourages citizens and students of the Constitution to think critically about the fundamental principles and policies of the American constitutional order. In addition to its distinguished authorship, the book has two prominent features that set it apart from other books in the field: an emphasis on the social, political, and moral theory that provides meaning to constitutional law and interpretation, and a comparative perspective that situates the American experience within a world context that serves as an invaluable prism through which to illuminate the special features of our own constitutional order. While the focus of the book is entirely on American constitutional law, the book asks students to consider what, if anything, is unique in American constitutional life and what we share with other constitutional democracies. Each chapter is preceded by an introductory essay that highlights these major themes and also situates the cases in their proper historical and political contexts. This new edition offers updated and expanded treatment of a number of important and timely topics including, the death penalty, privacy, affirmative action, and school segregation. Volume 2 of this text focuses on civil rights and basic freedoms and includes separate chapters on race and gender. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abortion Amendment’s American Appeals argued argument Article Basic Law Bill of Rights capital punishment Chaplinsky Chief Justice child citizens claim concluded concurring conduct Congress Constitutional Court constitutional interpretation constitutional law constitutionality conviction Court’s crime criminal death penalty decision democracy dissent doctrine Due Process Clause Eighth Amendment enacted Equal Protection Clause Establishment Clause expression federal fetus flag Fourteenth Amendment Framers freedom governmental guarantees homosexual human imposed individual interest issue judges judgment judicial power judicial review jurisdiction jurisprudence jury Justice Scalia legislative legislature liberty limited majority meaning ment moral Ninth Amendment O’Connor offense one’s opinion person petitioners political prayer principle prohibition provides public schools purpose question reason regulation Rehnquist religion religious reprinted later restrictions rule Second Amendment social society sodomy speech stare decisis State’s statute Supreme Court tion tional today’s tradition unconstitutional United University Press violation York