Processes of Constitutional Decisionmaking: Cases and Materials (Casebook Series) [Hardcover]

Paul Brest (Editor), Sanford Levinson (Editor), J. M. Balkin (Editor), Akhil Reed Amar (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000 | ISBN-10: 0735512507 | ISBN-13: 978-0735512504 | Edition: 4

This popular casebook is highly regarded for its ability to provide a solid introduction to the practical realities of constitutional decision-making by taking a distinctive historical approach. In its revised and updated Fifth Edition, <b>PROCESSES OF CONSTITUTIONAL DECISIONMAKING</b> is an invaluable tool for teaching students the origins and development of constitutional doctrine.<p class=copymedium> Proven effective through years of successful classroom use, the casebook: <li class=copymedium>traces the historical, political, and social development of constitutional law, then considers constitutional questions in a broad historical context <li class=copymedium>presents cutting-edge contributions from important contemporary legal scholars <li class=copymedium>discusses seminal cases from the annals of history that show the relevance of historical materials to modern constitutional analysis <li class=copymedium>provides full treatment of the important issues of civil rights, federalism, and separation of powers <li class=copymedium>draws on the combined expertise of an outstanding author team <li class=copymedium>contains particularly strong chapters on the constitutional treatment of sex equality and race</ul><p class=copymedium> Longtime users will find much new information in the Fifth Edition, including: <li class=copymedium>timely coverage of civil liberties during wartime <li class=copymedium>revised and expanded treatment of constitutional rights of sexual orientation minorities <li class=copymedium>more material on rights of the poor and constitutional rights in the welfare state <li class=copymedium>full analysis of new doctrines on federalism and civil rights powers</ul>

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1638 pages
• Publisher: Aspen Law & Business; 4 edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735512507
• ISBN-13: 978-0735512504
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.4 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #853,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #43 in Books > Law > Perspectives on Law > Conflict of Laws
  • #99 in Books > Law > Business > Construction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great old standard in Constitutional education, September 30, 2008

By 

J Lo "Ivegot" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Processes of Constitutional Decision Making: Cases And Materials (Hardcover)

The textbook approaches Con Law with a thorough historical perspective. It truly delivers a framework for the PROCESS of "Constitutional Decision Making."

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Horribly Ineffective, May 17, 2011

By 

Keith - See all my reviews

This review is from: Processes of Constitutional Decision Making: Cases And Materials (Hardcover)

To some extent, this book does what it says: it gives you the PROCESSES of constitutional decision making by presenting scattered material more or less chronologically. However, the organization of this book is a complete and utter failure, and is probably useless to most american law student enrolled in a constitutional law course. Law students will be tested on doctrine, not abstract historical narrative. True, the historical context in which a case is brought is of importance to understanding how and why the Court reached a decision, but this casebook elevates historical narrative at the expense of a necessary focus on the doctrinal point at issue. The book's interest in illustrating the historical evolution of Supreme Court decision making is not unimportant, but would be of much greater service to students (and professors, who all too often lack the ability to TEACH material in a class beyond their particular research interest) if the historical narrative was subdivided doctrinally. In short, rather than present ridiculous chapter headings such as "The Taney Court and the Civil War" or pointless sub-headings such as "The Cases of 1803," this book could (and should) have broken down the text into areas of law to shown students how each area of law (commerce clause, due process, equal protection, etc.) evolved and addressed particular sub-areas over time. In short, if you actually want to understand constitutional law (including it's historical revolution within a particular area), you'd be better off looking to Erwin Chemerinsky's treatise, Constitutional Law: Principles And Policies (Introduction to Law Series), which combines concise summaries of doctrinal decisions with historical narrative and, best of all, the addresses underlying tensions between cases in a way much more effective than an ambiguous case note infused with shameless citations of other authors without effective editing.

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Constitutional or Unconstitutional - Explained, August 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Processes of Constitutional Decisionmaking: Cases and Materials (Casebook Series) (Hardcover)

An excellent analysis of how the Justices of the Supreme Court decide whether or not a law (created by Congress or the States) is valid or not. More than just a compilation of majority, concurring and dissenting opinions, this book looks at why the decisions were made, not just what the decisions were. Well worth the money and a fine addition to the library of anyone interested in law or the legislative process.