Constitutional Theory: Arguments and Perspectives

This text covers the central debates in contemporary American constitutional theory and demonstrates the connection between theory and judicial practice, politics, and academic scholarship. This foundation prepares students to analyze the events in which constitutional theory is likely to play a significant role, such as Supreme Court confirmations proceedings, separation of powers conflicts, and constitutional interpretation and political disputes regarding civil rights and civil liberties.

Among the changes in the Fourth edition:

• All chapters have been updated to reflect the current state of constitutional theory;
• Completely new chapters on: constitutional change; conservatives and constitutional theory; progressives and constitutional theory; and the US Constitution and global constitutionalism;
• New editor Lawrence Solum produces a state of the art chapter on originalism.;
• Throughout, selections present opposing views to make students aware of existing conflicts and to facilitate discussion.

A Teacher's Manual is available to professors.

Michael Gerhardt is the the Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Stephen Griffin is the W.R. Irby Chair and Rutledge C. Clement Jr. Professor in Constitutional Law at Tulane University School of Law.

Thomas Rowe is the Elvin R. Latty Professor of Law Emeritus at Duke University School of Law.

Lawrence Solum is the William L. Matheson and Robert M. Morgenthau Distinguished Professor of Law and the Douglas D. Drysdale Research Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law.