Author(s)David E. Carleton, John R. Vile, Mark Eaton ByrnesEditionStudy GdPublication date2002-01PublisherMcgraw-Hill CollegeBindingPaperbackPackage Dimensions10.6 x 8.1 x 0.3 inchesPackage Weight0.6 pounds

On Common Ground: Framework for Democracy

Politics & Social Sciences

Vile, John R.

Carleton, David E.

Byrnes, Mark Eaton

Politics & Government

Mcgraw-Hill College

Constitutional Law in Contemporary America is the most up-to-date, carefully edited, and student-friendly undergraduate constitutional law textbook. Placing a unique emphasis on property rights, election law, and issues of gender, gender orientation, foreign policy, and criminal due process, the two-volume text features: * Skillfully edited excerpts of canonical Supreme Court decisions and lower federal and state court decisions * Historically important auxiliary materials--such as the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, the Declaration of Sentiments, and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution--which help students better understand American constitutional law, politics, and government * Succinct case introductions, timelines, discussion questions, chapter glossaries, and chapter bibliographies * Discussions emphasizing significant contemporary issues (e.g., same-sex marriage, free speech on the Internet, and the war on terrorism) * Topical overviews for each constitutional subject area In order to best suit the traditional two-semester constitutional law sequence, the text is conveniently divided into two volumes: * Volume One: Institutions, Politics, and Process presents cases relating to the three branches of the national government. The authors address federalism, the relationship between the citizen and the political process, and those issues of property that have dominated the Supreme Court since its inception nearly two centuries ago. Other topics include: Constitutional and foreign affairs, including case law developed post-9/11; election law and political process cases; the role and power of the federal courts; economic due process; and eminent domain law. * Volume Two: Civil Rights and Liberties covers civil rights and liberties issues including those addressed in the Bill of Rights (as subsequently applied to the states) and in the Reconstruction Amendments. The authors address expressive freedoms such as religion, speech, press, and association, as well as the rights of those accused or convicted of crimes. Other topics include the state action doctrine, equal protection, the Second Amendment and gun rights, the rights of students, the death penalty, privacy, and reproductive rights.

Constitutional Law in Contemporary America, Vol. 2: Civil Rights and Liberties

Schultz, David

Deardorff, Michelle D.

Constitutional Law

Oxford University Press

Constitutional Law in Contemporary America, Vol. 1: Institutions, Politics, and Process

Since the Reconstruction period, there have been over forty proposals to rewrite the U.S. Constitution. John Vile's unique historical study analyzes all of these proposals within the framework of the constitutional amending process. In each case Vile examines the substance of the proposal, its goals and methods, the response to the proposal, and its overall influence--concluding that the Constitution in its current form faces no immediate threats. He finds no convincing cases for a new Constitution and believes that most perceived defects can be remedied with less drastic measures.
The study illuminates issues of constitutional change, stressing the importance of understanding alternative forms of government and the basis for their support. While immediate change is not likely, constitutional change will ultimately come, and when it does, earlier criticisms and suggestions may help to set the agenda. Proposals for change are critiques which help to identify strengths and weaknesses in the current system. In addition, examinations of past proposals reveal how people view the Constitution during crises. This work will be particularly useful for political scientists, historians, lawyers, and individuals interested in, or involved with, efforts for constitutional change.

Rewriting the United States Constitution: An Examination of Proposals from Reconstruction to the Present

Praeger

This book is the first full-length work to present debates over the constitutional amending process as a perennial theme in American political thought. Beginning with a discussion of the views of political philosophers, publicists, and legal commentators who may have influenced the views of legal change held by the American Founding Fathers, the work proceeds to look at the historical influences on and discussions surrounding the amending process that was incorporated into Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The reader will gain a new respect for the way the amending process has served and still serves as a safety valve for constitutional change in the United States without permitting ill-considered or hastily conceived modifications.This work will be of interest to political scientists, historians, and students of American studies and legal history.

The Constitutional Amending Process in American Political Thought

Designed to help students understand the Constitution in all of its splendor and subtlety, this book introduces key events of the founding era, the Declaration of Independence, and the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution and its amendments are explored section by section, along with pertinent historical events, laws, and cases.Since the Third Edition was published in 2001, we have witnessed another presidential election, a second war with Iraq, significant Supreme Court cases on privacy, the death penalty, affirmative action, searches and seizures, and, perhaps most significantly, a series of developments related to America's response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. In addition, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has announced her intention to resign. This new edition encompasses all of these developments.The Fourth Edition is the first to be thoroughly revised in its entirety, rather than merely updated. The language has been made even more accessible, rendering this an ideal starting point for students, as well as new citizens, who may be unfamiliar with constitutional law, American politics, or American history. Those already familiar with constitutional issues will be able to make use of the book as a reference guide to landmarks in constitutional history and development. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography of key books and cases useful for further study. The book includes a glossary; the texts of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution; and a section on how to locate cases and understand citations. Fifty leading cases are briefly described. Finally, the book includes two all-new sections, Highlights in Constitutional History and U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments

Greenwood Pub Group

As its title indicates, this text is designed as a companion for those studying and interested in understanding the United States Constitution. After an introductory chapter discussing the formation of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, and the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention, 11 chapters analyze specific portions of the Constitution and its subsequent amendments in detail, with commentary following the relevant texts. Each chapter also contains a bibliography of books and cases useful for further study. Notably, this work provides information on key cases and historical events that are necessary to an understanding of the Constitution without, however, inundating readers with too many individual cases.
As its title indicates, this text is designed as a companion for those studying and interested in understanding the United States Constitution. After an introductory chapter discussing the formation of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, and the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention, 11 chapters analyze specific portions of the Constitution and its subsequent amendments in detail, with commentary following the relevant texts. Each chapter also contains a bibliography of books and cases useful for further study. Notably, this work provides information on key cases and historical events that are necessary to an understanding of the Constitution without, however, inundating readers with too many individual cases.
This companion will be an excellent supplementary text for undergraduate courses in American Government and American Constitutional Law. It will also serve as an excellent basic reference on the Constitution.

A Companion to the United States Constitution and its Amendments

This study examines contemporary questions surrounding the process by which the U.S. Constitution can be amended. Beginning with a description of the mechanism and history of the constitutional amending process in America, the work considers five major questions surrounding the amending process. The question of justiciability: whether the courts should have authority to settle amending issues or whether they are political questions beyond the court's purview. The question of standards: what standards of review should be used. The question of safety: the safety of invoking the constitutional convention mechanism. The question of exclusivity: whether there are legal means of changing the Constitution short of Article V. And the question of limitations: whether there are any unstated constitutional limits on the amending process.

Contemporary Questions Surrounding the Constitutional Amending Process:

Rules & Procedures

The processes of constitutional change in America are particularly difficult to understand because of the constant interaction between the constitutional document of 1787 and the wider set of understandings and practices surrounding that document. This work is the first to examine systematically the relationship between changes initiated by constitutional amendment and changes initiated by judicial interpretations or actions of the two elected branches of government. By examining and comparing all three mechanisms of constitutional revision, Vile offers a more complex and dynamic analysis of this important constitutional issue than can be found elsewhere in the literature.

Constitutional Change in the United States: A Comparative Study of the Role of Constitutional Amendments, Judicial Interpretations, and Legislative and Executive Actions

A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments, 3rd Edition

Reflecting on important developments like the Clinton impeachment, the balanced budget amendment, gay marriages, and the Violence Against Women Act, Vile's updated book will prove invaluable to those studying the United States Constitution. Designed to help students understand the Constitution in all of it splendor and subtlety, Vile introduces key events of the founding era, the Declaration of Independence, and the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution and its amendments are explored section by section, along with pertinent historical events, laws, and cases.
Students new to constitutional law, American politics, and American history will find Vile's book an authoritative starting point, quickly and easily placing the Constitution's sections and amendments in a wider context, and leading them to other important issues and texts. Those already familiar with Constitutional issues will be able to make use of the book as a reference guide, able to lead them at a glance to landmarks in the U.S. Constitutional history and development. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography of key books and cases useful for further study. Appendices include a glossary, a table of the 50 most important cases, and the texts of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.

A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments, Third Edition:

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