American Constitutional Law: Introductory Essays and Selected Cases (13th Edition) [Hardcover]

Alpheus Thomas Mason (Author), Donald Grier Stephenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0130932930 | ISBN-13: 978-0130932938 | Edition: 13

This classic collection of carefully selected and edited Supreme Court case excerpts and comprehensive background essays explores constitutional law and the role of the Supreme Court in its development and interpretation. Well-grounded in both theory and politics, it displays the role of the U.S. Supreme Court as a legal AND political institution and as a major player in American government. Features 10 cases decided in 2000; several quick-reference charts, tables, graphs, and maps; and an easy-access section on "How to Read a Supreme Court Case." Introduction: A Political Supreme Court. Jurisdiction and Organization of the Federal Courts. The Constitution, the Supreme Court, and Judicial Congress, the Court, and the President. Federalism. The Electoral Process. The Commerce Clause. National Taxing and Spending Power. Property Rights and the Development of Due Process. Criminal Justice and the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights (drive for a Bill of Rights; nationalization of the Bill of Rights; the exclusionary rule; searches and seizures; right to counsel and self-incrimination; capital punishment). Freedom of Expression (internal security; protest and symbolic speech; freedom of association; print and electronic media). Religious Liberty. Privacy. Equal Protection of the Laws. For those interested in American Constitutional Law, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, American Constitutional History or Development.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This classic collection of selected Supreme Court case excerpts and background narratives explores constitutional law and the role of the Supreme Court in its development. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

This classic collection of carefully selected and edited Supreme Court case excerpts and comprehensive background essays explores constitutional law and the role of the Supreme Court in its development and interpretation. Well-grounded in both theory and politics, it displays the role of the U.S. Supreme Court as a legal AND political institution and as a major player in American government. Features 10 cases decided in 2000; several quick-reference charts, tables, graphs, and maps; and an easy-access section on "How to Read a Supreme Court Case." Introduction: A Political Supreme Court. Jurisdiction and Organization of the Federal Courts. The Constitution, the Supreme Court, and Judicial Congress, the Court, and the President. Federalism. The Electoral Process. The Commerce Clause. National Taxing and Spending Power. Property Rights and the Development of Due Process. Criminal Justice and the Nationalization of the Bill of Rights (drive for a Bill of Rights; nationalization of the Bill of Rights; the exclusionary rule; searches and seizures; right to counsel and self-incrimination; capital punishment). Freedom of Expression (internal security; protest and symbolic speech; freedom of association; print and electronic media). Religious Liberty. Privacy. Equal Protection of the Laws. For those interested in American Constitutional Law, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, American Constitutional History or Development.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 728 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 13 edition (July 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130932930
• ISBN-13: 978-0130932938
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,443,187 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the best basic text on U.S. Constitutional law., March 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: American Constitutional Law: Introductory Essays and Selected Cases (American Constitutional Law) (Hardcover)

For any student of American constitutional law, this book is the best exposition of the fundamentals of the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court. Further enquiry into the subject is not possible without an understanding of the ideas presented in this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the Constitution, September 14, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: American Constitutional Law: Introductory Essays and Selected Cases (14th Edition) (Hardcover)

I first used this text in the seventh edition (Mason, Beaney and Stephenson) in my undergraduate Constitutional Law class, and it has remained a constant resource for me. I have invested in two of the upgraded editions, including this latest 14th edition.

Mason et al. has a wonderful style of combining accessible and interesting narrative essays with case law summaries and texts from rulings. The authors state in the preface that they see constitutional law development as 'an intricate blend of history and politics.' The Supreme Court functions in the real world (indeed, has a long-standing tradition of not deciding 'moot' cases, but rather only adjudicating in real life situations).

The chapters rely heavily on case law and texts from decisions, but each chapter is introduced by an essay that sets tone, context, and highlights of particular interest. Where appropriate, the authors draw in texts from beyond case law - for example, in the chapter dealing with Congress, the Court and the Presidency, the authors bring in excerpts from the Federalist papers, and with the chapter on the development of due process, they excerpt Justice Cardozo's papers.

This is a broadly sweeping text that covers the whole Constitution, each article of the primary text, various amendments dealing with governmental and procedural issues, and many chapters dealing with rights and liberties contained in both the Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) and other amendments. It includes indexes of cases, a good chart of Justices of the Supreme Court, and the full text of the Constitution and amendments.

This is a book more intended for the student of political science or history who wishes to gain a better understanding of the processes and content of Constitutional Law at both the advanced undergraduate and graduate level. It may be useful as a secondary text in a law school's Constitutional Law class, also. It is not light reading, particularly in the case law sections, but the essays are worthwhile and can generally be read as stand-alone texts for those who want to get the broad overview without the case detail - however, beware of this approach, for the law and process is built on the details.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Constitutional Law, July 10, 2002

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: American Constitutional Law: Introductory Essays and Selected Cases (Hardcover)

American Constitutional Law: Introductory Essays and Selected Cases by Alpheus Thomas Mason and Donald Grier Stephenson is a book that when read you'll find an intricate blend of history and politics.

This is an excellent book for those studing constitutional law as there are plenty of case study with selected readings, queries, and key terms associated with each particular case. You'll get a real good dose of the constitution here and why decisions are the way they are at that time. Applying standards drawn from the constitution, the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbitor and guardian of individual privilege and governmental prerogative alike.

This book gives the reader a broad understanding of the present with respect to the past and includes relevant extrajudicial material. A very good introductory book on American Constitutional Law.