The Constitution: The Delicate Balance

by Fred W. Friendly

Examines sixteen landmark Supreme Court cases that have significantly affected our interpretation of the Constitution

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

339 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The copyright on this book is 1984, so it is rather outdated. But it was quite interesting to read about landmark cases up to that point in time that have shaped America. This is not dry case law. It provides a look at the personal issues behind the cases, and I found it quite informative. There were times when I felt anger toward the Supreme Court and at other times I was cheering their decisions. It was interesting to read about the cases that came before the Court in which the faces behind the cases never expected — or intended — their lawsuits to shape national policy/laws. Overall, what has changed the most since the Supreme Court was established is the power the Court now wields — much more power than that established by our forefathers, who established the Court’s role to INTERPRET the Constitution, not REWRITE it. Reading about these cases gives insight into how we got from there to here. I intend to research and read about landmark Supreme Court decisions since the publication of this book.