Constitutional Law and Politics: Struggles for Power and Governmental Accountability

Constitutional Law and Politics, Eighth Edition, has more material—including case excerpts, concurring and dissenting opinions, and topical introductions—than any other casebook. Each case is set in its historical and political context, with social and technological factors relevant to the study of Supreme Court rulings noted throughout. Special feature boxes make constitutional law come alive with additional insights on the history, context, and personalities behind Supreme Court deliberations and decisions.

New cases added for the Eighth Edition include: Boumediene v. Bush, about presidential power, detainees in the War on Terror, and the writ of habeas corpus; Medellin v. Texas, about presidential power, treaties, and federalism; Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a landmark case about corporate contributions in federal elections and First Amendment rights; United States v. Williams, about regulating the Internet; Safford Unified School Dist. No. 1 v. Redding, about strip searches of students; and Herring v. United States, about the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule.