Constitutional Law and Politics, Volume 1

by David M. O'Brien

Now in its Sixth Edition, Constitutional Law and Politics is the authoritative casebook for the study of the Supreme Court and its role in politics past and present. This comprehensive text presents a wide range of excerpts and opinions from the most significant Supreme Court cases and provides the contextual material students need to interpret their historical significance. The Sixth Edition adds material on dozens of important recent cases, current through June 2004, and features carefully updated and refined pedagogy.

Author Biography: David M. O'Brien is Leone Reaves and George W. Spicer Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia, where he teaches the popular constitutional law course on which his book Constitutional Law and Politics (now in its Sixth Edition) is based. Professor O'Brien is a regular commentator on the Supreme Court's activities and rulings. He is the author of over fifteen books and regularly contributes op-ed pieces on the Court to the Los Angeles Times.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Law, School, Summer Reads

1120 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Shea ☾⚂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

For American Constitutional Law 1 (Prof: Cooley)

[Samir Salifou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must have guide to the constitution and the key cases.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will have nightmares over this book.
Probably as dense as it is intellectual.