Civil Rights and Liberties: Cases and Readings in Constitutional Law and American Democracy

by Corey L. Brettschneider

Overview

An engaging conceptualizing chapter opens Civil Rights and Liberties: Cases and Readings in Constitutional Law and American Democracy, introducing civil liberties within their constitutional framework, illuminating their nature and sources through enlightening Supreme Court deliberations that show the underlying debates about constitutional interpretation. A distinctive approach to themes and principles encourages students to develop their own views on civil liberties in general and on the specific controversies such as abortion, gay rights, and hate speech. Extensive, intriguing excerpts from a highly focused set of cases and other readings from contemporary theory highlight conflicting opinions among the justices. They provide depth of understanding of the Constitution and of the disputes that have shaped its meaning, including the basis and nature of judicial authority. The text's thematic organization reveals the structural and normative features of the Constitution and constitutional law by linking them to contemporary issues and controversies. Key historical elements lend context and depth. A logical chapter structure offers probing overviews of the topics, constitutional arguments, and chapter readings followed by a broad range of theoretical and historical writings leading up to the cases. This multidimensional perspective draws on a wide array of resources such as case excerpts, concurring and dissenting opinions, law journal and articles, general publications, published letters, and other documents. Probing case comprehension, discussion, and synthesis questions punctuate and reinforce content.

Features:

• an engaging conceptualizing opening chapter
  • introduces civil liberties within constitutional framework
  • illuminates their nature and sources through enlightening Supreme Court disputes
  • shows underlying debates about constitutional interpretation
• a distinctive approach to themes and principles
  • encourages students to develop their own views on civil liberties
  • engages students in specific controversies—abortion, gay rights, and hate speech, etc.
• intriguing excerpts from a highly focused set of cases and other readings
  • highlight disputes among the justices
  • provide depth of understanding of the Constitution and interpretive disputes
  • explore the basis and nature of judicial authority
• thematic organization
  • shows structural and normative features of the Constitution and constitutional law
  • links the Constitution to contemporary issues and controversies
  • provides key historical elements for context
• logical chapter structure
  • author's overviews of topics, constitutional arguments, and chapter readings
  • a broad range of theoretical and historical writings
  • key cases
• a multidimensional perspective draws on a wide array of resources
  • case excerpts
  • concurring and dissenting opinions
  • law journal articles
  • general publications
  • published letters and other documents
• probing case comprehension, discussion, and synthesis questions reinforce content

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735579866
Publisher:	Wolters Kluwer Law & Business
Publication date:	07/10/2013
Series:	Aspen Criminal Justice Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	960
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.10(h) x 2.00(d)

Table of Contents

Summary of Contents

Preface

Introduction to Constitutional Law and American Democracy

Introduction to the Constitution and the Supreme Court

The Constitution of the United States

Ch. 1. The Constitution and Civil Rights and Liberties

Ch. 2. Theories of Interpretation

Ch. 3. Free Speech

Ch. 4. Religious Freedom:

The Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment

Ch. 5. Substantive Due Process and Fundamental Rights

Ch. 6. Race and Equality

Ch. 7. Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Equality

Glossary

Table of Cases

Index