Constitutional Law: Principles And Policies (Introduction to Law Series) (Paperback)

by Erwin Chemerinsky (Author)
Key Phrases: economic liberties, textual provisions, mootness doctrine, Supreme Court, First Amendment, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Written by leading scholars, each title in the "Introduction to Law" series contains comprehensive treatment in black-letter style. Featuring footnotes citing to case law, statutory and other authorities, these volumes are ideal for in-depth research on particular issues and points of law.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1328 pages
• Publisher: Aspen Publishers; 3 edition (July 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073555787X
• ISBN-13: 978-0735557871
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,779 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really understand Con Law (and help your grade, too), April 24, 2003

By	Steve Sanders "Steve Sanders" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies (Aspen's Introduction to Law Series) (Paperback)

A central problem with teaching law by the casebook method is that most students also need a clear, expert roadmap of how the cases fit together, and how a particular doctrine that emerges from a line of cases -- sometimes over a century or more -- has evolved, changed, and operates today. Outlines of the black letter law (e.g. Gilberts) aren't as useful for something doctrinal like con law. You want clear exposition in prose. You want concise descriptions of all the important cases and what they stand for. You want Chemerinsky.

All con law students should be grateful that one of the nation's leading Constitutional practitioners and professors has written this book. Its size is intimidating, but that's because it covers far more territory than the typical intro con law class. It's so well-done, though, that it's something serious students and lawyers will want on their bookshelves long after the first year -- as a supplement for advanced-topics classes, and as an essential reference work.

The book is well-organized in an outline format with headings and subheads, so you can easily follow the thread of complex doctrine over time, like the Commerce Clause, or across its varied applications, like Equal Protection. Chapters are thorough but well divided. The organization allows you to find exactly what you need and to zero in on a particular narrow point or case, or to read more expansively about a doctrine's development, change, and varied application. Chemerinsky's prose is neutral, straightforward, always clear. He's analytical but doesn't make arguments. You couldn't say his writing has personality, but it is quite readable.

This book is the con law supplement of choice at my school (Michigan). No one I know has regretted buying it.

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is none better, November 25, 1999

By	R. Wentworth "RWentworth" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Constitutional Law Principles and Policies (Introduction to law series) (Paperback)

I am a law student and used Mr. Chemerinsky's book during my studies in Constitutional law and for some time now after my classes in this field. This is better than any text book and was recommended by EVERY professor of Constitutional law at my school. It is an awesome book on almost everything you wanted to know about Constitutional law.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most valuable study aide of ALL TIME, October 19, 2004

By	2L (Sycamore, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies (Aspen's Introduction to Law Series) (Paperback)

This is probably the best money I spent my first year of law school. I am still using this book for Con Law II in my second year of school, and it is still just as invaluable to me. For Constitutional Law, canned briefs like legal lines do you no good. You need someone to spell out the principles and the analysis. No one does this as well as Chemerinsky. I could probably name at least 10 other students at school who ordered this book after they saw my copy. My text book for Constitutional Law is a piece of crap, and I would not learn anything if it were not for Chemerinsky. I have a different teacher for my second semester of Con Law, and he teaches verbatim from this book. My first Con Law professor was so impressed from a comment I made in class through something I had read in Chemerinsky that she came up to me after class and thanked me for helping further the class discussion. She was so impressed that I didn't want to tell her I was a fraud! I credit my final grade for Con Law I to Chemerinsky as well.

I know the price for this study aide is a little higher than some of the others, but you will get to use it for at least two semesters. I also heard it is helpful if you take a class on the First Amendment.

Other study aides I bought were barely opened. This one was read more than my text book!

(I never bother to write reviews. That is how pleased I am with how much this book helped me.)