Civil Rights and Liberties

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