Constitutional Law: Cases in Context, Second Edition (Aspen Casebook)

Constitutional Law: Cases in Context places primary emphasis on how constitutional law has developed, its foundational principles, and recurring debates, rather than focusing simply on doctrinal details. Teachable, manageable, class-sized chunks of material are suited to one-semester courses or reduced credit configurations. Generous case excerpts make the text flexible for most courses, no matter the ideology or interpretative method. Unique, concise coverage of the dormant commerce clause material helps clarify this often murky area. This allows the introduction of discriminatory intent and effects concepts in a less charged setting than race or gender material. Cases are judiciously supplemented with background readings from various sources. Providing additional context, the readings are long enough to help students understand the arguments, and edited where necessary to prevent overwhelming them. Constitutional Law: Cases in Context represents rival interpretations of the Constitution by founders, Presidents, and other critics of the Court's decisions better than do many other casebooks. Study guide questions help students focus on the salient issues, challenge them to consider the court's opinions from various perspectives, suggest comparisons or connections with other cases, and invite the student to think about recurring foundational principles and debates.

The Second Edition welcomes Howard E. Katz, of Elon University and co-author of "Strategies and Techniques of Law School Teaching: A Primer for New (and Not So New) Professors." Greatly reduced and more tightly edited introductory material preserves and expands content while providing additional balance. The text is updated with the most recent cases throughout. A two-color design features an art program and boxed Study Guides, and the text is available in e-formats as well as print. The Second Edition is one of three volumes specifically tailored for the most common courses, replacing the common one-size-fits-all format. Constitutional Law: Cases in Context, is designed for use both in one-semester courses and in two-semester sequences devoted to structure and rights. Constitutional Structure: Cases in Context covers Parts I and II of the parent book, and Constitutional Rights: Cases in Context covers Parts I and III. Each specialized volume can be taught in its entirety in one-semester Con Law I or Con Law II courses.

Features:

• emphasis on how constitutional law has developed, its foundational principles, and recurring debates, rather than on just doctrinal details
• teachable, class-sized chunks
  • manageable for professors and students
  • better suited to one-semester courses or reduced credit configurations
• generous case excerpts for flexibility in teaching, no matter the approach
• unique, concise coverage of dormant commerce clause
  • helps a normally murky area to be taught efficiently
  • allows introduction of discriminatory intent and effects concepts (in a less charged setting than race or gender material)
• cases supplemented with judicious background readings
  • various sources provide context
  • readings are long enough to help students to understand arguments
  • edited where necessary to prevent overwhelming the reader
• represents rival interpretations of the Constitution by founders, Presidents, and critics of the Court's decisions
• includes study guide questions