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Constitutional Law and Politics: Struggles for Power and Governmental Accountability
This authoritative casebook presents a wide range of excerpts and opinions from the most significant Supreme Court cases and places each case in its historical and political context. Special feature boxes, headnotes, and introductions help students understand complicated decisions. The Ninth Edition has been updated to include recent landmark rulings on contemporary issues, such as same-sex marriage and heath care.
1184 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 4, 2024
I assigned an earlier version of this book when I taught Conlaw in 1997-01. This spring, I assigned the latest version (11th?). They added a new author with the passage of the first.
So, basically, I knew what I was getting--it's a very good book for a conlaw course in that the introductions set up the cases well, the cases are well selected, and for the most part I agree with the editing choices.
In fact, I have more confidence in O'Brien than ever because for the second half of my course, I chose to go full text online for the civil rights cases rather than have my students buy the damn $100+ second volume. And while I still think it was the right choice, it is quite challenging to tell them which parts of a 87 page case to read. To figure out which of 45 cases on privacy they should even know at all, let alone read part of.
The latest version had a lot of typos. I was going to keep track of them, but I got lazy as they got so numerous. So for this price, it should be better edited, and the latest author doesn't have as careful an eye (or as careful graduate students) as O'Brien did.
Still, I don't know a better book. If I teach it again, I'll use this one.
So, basically, I knew what I was getting--it's a very good book for a conlaw course in that the introductions set up the cases well, the cases are well selected, and for the most part I agree with the editing choices.
In fact, I have more confidence in O'Brien than ever because for the second half of my course, I chose to go full text online for the civil rights cases rather than have my students buy the damn $100+ second volume. And while I still think it was the right choice, it is quite challenging to tell them which parts of a 87 page case to read. To figure out which of 45 cases on privacy they should even know at all, let alone read part of.
The latest version had a lot of typos. I was going to keep track of them, but I got lazy as they got so numerous. So for this price, it should be better edited, and the latest author doesn't have as careful an eye (or as careful graduate students) as O'Brien did.
Still, I don't know a better book. If I teach it again, I'll use this one.
December 11, 2025
For American Constitutional Law 1 (Prof: Cooley)
April 18, 2014
Must have guide to the constitution and the key cases.
December 19, 2014
I will have nightmares over this book.
Probably as dense as it is intellectual.
Probably as dense as it is intellectual.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews