Understanding Constitutional Law

Understanding Constitutional Law is a succinct but comprehensive treatment of constitutional law topics typically encountered in a first-year constitutional law class.

The book provides the current black letter law doctrines alongside the historical background needed to understand them and the major lines of dissenting thought. It explains the methodological approaches the Court has taken to the topics it covers and is interspersed with commentary to help readers understand both those approaches and the rules they generate. Thus, the book is ideal for both students beginning their education in constitutional law and those seeking a deeper understanding. It's also suitable for practitioners seeking a sourcebook to help them analyze the constitutional law issues confronting them.

The sixth edition features extensive treatment of all the significant changes in constitutional law that have occurred over the last several years, in areas including but not limited to Congress's power to create causes of action satisfying Article III's standing requirement, the President's immunity from criminal prosecution, the evolving status of the dormant Commerce Clause doctrine, the overruling of the due process right to abortion, the current status of race-based affirmative action in university admissions, the expansion of Free Exercise Clause protections, and the Court's first extended statement about the free speech rights of social media platforms.

For ease of use, the new edition has eliminated coverage of some cases that have been overruled or have faded in importance while retaining slimmed down discussions of older cases that remain influential even in the face of new doctrine announced by the Court.