Constitutional Dialogues: Interpretation as Political Process (Princeton Legacy Library) - Hardcover

Fisher, Louis

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0691634173 ISBN 13: 9780691634173

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2016

Synopsis

Who makes constitutional law? Is constitutional doctrine the monopoly of the courts? In accessible and persuasive prose Louis Fisher explains that constitutional law is not solely or even primarily the Supreme Court's "final word" but rather a richly political convergence of separate interpretations. With a broad range of examples, he argues that constitutional principles emerge from a dialogue among all three branches of government--executive, legislative, and judicial. Important contributions also come from the states and the general public. Fisher identifies executive and legislative initiatives in many areas of constitutional significance. Where there is litigation, the Court generally upholds these initiatives or may avoid making a constitutional decision by using "threshold devices." On those rare occasions when the Supreme Court exercises judicial review and strikes down a presidential or congressional action, it is usually only a matter of time before the proposal is revived and the dialogue begins again.

Originally published in 1988.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

About this title

About the Author

Louis Fisher, Scholar in Residence at the Constitution Project, previously worked for four decades at the Library of Congress as Senior Specialist in Separation of Powers and as Specialist in Constitutional Law. His many books include Presidential War Power, In the Name of National Security: Unchecked Presidential Power and the Reynolds Case, and Military Tribunals and Presidential Power, winner of the Richard E. Neustadt Award.

Review

"Louis Fisher, one of our most eminent constitutional scholars, cogently argues in this book ... [that] Constitutional interpretation reaches beyond the courts-to the presidency, Congress, the states, and even the general public." (Perspective)

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691634173
• ISBN 13: 9780691634173
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 318