ABSTRACT

This book is a collection of comprehensive background essays coupled with carefully edited Supreme Court case excerpts designed to explore constitutional law and the role of the Supreme Court in its development and interpretation. Well-grounded in both theory and politics, the book endeavors to heighten students’ understanding of this critical part of the American political system.

 

New to the 18th Edition

  • An account of the Trump impeachments and a full discussion of the recent Supreme Court transitions including recent Supreme Court transitions including the fraught Kavanaugh hearings, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and the nomination process surrounding Amy Coney Barrett.

  • Fourteen new cases carefully edited and excerpted, including Chifalo v. Washington (2020) on the Electoral College, Masterpiece Cakeshop (2018) on gay rights, and three Trump cases as well.
  • Thirty-one new cases discussed in chapter essays in addition.

 

 

chapter |32 pages

Introduction

A Political Supreme Court

chapter 3|70 pages

Congress and the President

chapter 4|39 pages

Federalism

chapter 5|51 pages

The Electoral Process

chapter 6|66 pages

The Commerce Clause

chapter 7|21 pages

National Taxing and Spending Power

chapter 10|79 pages

Criminal Justice

chapter 11|63 pages

Freedom of Expression

chapter 12|15 pages

Religious Liberty

chapter 13|39 pages

Privacy

chapter 14|62 pages

Equal Protection of the Laws

chapter 15|30 pages

Security and Freedom in Wartime and Pandemic