The U. S. Supreme Court: a Very Short Introduction
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For 30 years, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Linda Greenhouse chronicled the activities of the U.S. Supreme Court and its justices as a correspondent for the New York Times. In this Very Short Introduction, she draws on her deep knowledge of the court's history and of its written and unwritten rules to show readers how the Supreme Court really works. Greenhouse offers a fascinating institutional biography of a place and its people--men and women who exercise great power but whose names and faces are unrecognized by many Americans and whose work often appears cloaked in mystery. How do cases get to the Supreme Court? How do the justices go about deciding them? What special role does the chief justice play? What do the law clerks do? How does the court relate to the other branches of government? Greenhouse answers these questions by depicting the justices as they confront deep constitutional issues or wrestle with the meaning of confusing federal statutes. Throughout, the author examines many individual Supreme Court cases to illustrate points under discussion, ranging from Marbury v. Madison, the seminal case which established judicial review, to the recent District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), which struck down the District of Columbia's gun-control statute and which was, surprisingly, the first time in its history that the Court issued an authoritative interpretation of the Second Amendment. To add perspective, Greenhouse also compares the Court to foreign courts, revealing interesting differences. For instance, no other country in the world has chosen to bestow life tenure on its judges. A superb overview packed with telling details, this volume offers a matchless introduction to one of the pillars of American government.
Contemporary Supreme Court Cases
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With its blend of accessible writing and actual excerpts from Court opinions, this book serves to explain the legal and cultural underpinnings of landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions of the past 35 years--and to illuminate how these decisions have shaped the trajectory and character of modern American society. As the nation's law defines society, society defines the law. As the nation's fundamental law, the U.S. Constitution is the overarching statement of the people's will. Interpreting the Constitution, however, is no simple task. This book examines more than 100 landmark Supreme Court cases from 1973 to the present, providing readers with insights into decisions that have had a profound impact on American politics, commerce, culture, and life. Organized categorically, this book serves readers either as a comprehensive review of modern constitutional law or as a ready reference source. It includes entries on Supreme Court decision-making regarding high-interest issues such as abortion (Roe v. Wade, 1973; Gonzales v. Carthart, 2007), climate change (Massachusetts v. EPA, 2007), voting rights (Bush v. Gore, 2000), free speech (Texas v. Johnson, 1989), the death penalty (Roper v. Simmons, 2005), immigration (Arizona v. United States, 2012), campaign financing (Citizens United v. FEC, 2010), gun control (District of Columbia v. Heller, 2008), the Affordable Care Act (National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 2012), and gay marriage (United States v. Windsor, 2013). The book not only interprets key Court decisions but also provides critical context and perspective that makes the subject matter easier to understand and more meaningful, especially for readers without an extensive background in Constitutional law. Bibliographies are provided at the end of each case to direct those seeking to delve more deeply into specific topics. Provides comprehensive, objective, and accessible coverage of major Supreme Court decisions since the early 1970s Presents easy-to-understand breakdowns of competing perspectives on contemporary constitutional issues that illuminate divisions within the Court Places modern case law into historical perspective for readers of all levels of expertise Enables readers to appreciate that interpreting the U.S. Constitution is not simple, contrary to some political rhetoric regarding the document
American Government: Supreme Court
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Themes: Government, United States, Politics, Supreme Court, Nonfiction, Handbook, Teen, Young Adult, Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Books, Hi-Lo Solutions, High-Low Books, Hi-Low Books, ELL, EL, ESL, Struggling Learner, Struggling Reader, Special Education, SPED, Newcomers, Reading, Learning, Education, Educational, Educational Books. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial court in the U.S. It has the final say on whether laws violate the Constitution. This handbook defines the role of the court and how it is essential to the rule of law. Five unique handbooks comprise the new American Government series. With the confusing political discourse in today's world, it's no wonder kids tune out. How can we tune them back in? The stale descriptions in standard American government textbooks do nothing to motivate learning. The readability is too high. And the language too dry. How can we make it personal? Accessible? Interesting? Even humorous?
Reference Shelf - The Supreme Court
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Each book in the Reference Shelf series offers extensive, unbiased exploration of a topic of importance in modern society, in a compilation of notable articles from respected publications, abstracts of 20 to 30 additional articles, and a bibliography of other sources.
American Government: Supreme Court
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Themes: Government, United States, Politics, Supreme Court, Nonfiction, Handbook, Teen, Young Adult, Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Books, Hi-Lo Solutions, High-Low Books, Hi-Low Books, ELL, EL, ESL, Struggling Learner, Struggling Reader, Special Education, SPED, Newcomers, Reading, Learning, Education, Educational, Educational Books. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial court in the U.S. It has the final say on whether laws violate the Constitution. This handbook defines the role of the court and how it is essential to the rule of law. Five unique handbooks comprise the new American Government series. With the confusing political discourse in today's world, it's no wonder kids tune out. How can we tune them back in? The stale descriptions in standard American government textbooks do nothing to motivate learning. The readability is too high. And the language too dry. How can we make it personal? Accessible? Interesting? Even humorous?
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
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Praise for the previous edition: "Recommended."—Choice "An excellent source for beginning researchers...unbiased...The discussion of the case's significance and its implications will be useful for students..."—School Library Journal Through its interpretations of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the Supreme Court issues decisions that shape American law, define the functioning of government and society, and address the most important issues of the day. No court in the country can overturn Supreme Court rulings. Famous cases like Roe v. Wade, Plessy v. Ferguson, Dred Scott v. John F.A. Sanford, and Miranda v. Arizona are among the most important decisions made by the court, but many others have also had a profound impact on the American way of life. Now available in three volumes, Landmark Supreme Court Cases, Second Edition has been extensively revised and updated to feature more than 600 of the most important and influential cases in American history. Intended for U.S. history and political science students, this encyclopedia contains concise, straightforward summaries, analyzing and explaining groundbreaking court cases on such issues as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, civil rights, labor unions, abortion, antitrust and competition, due process, search and seizure, executive privilege, and more. Organized chronologically by issue, each entry includes the case title and legal citation, year of decision, key issue, historical background, legal arguments, decision (majority and dissenting opinions), aftermath and significance, related cases, and recommended reading. Coverage includes: Baker v. Carr Bush v. Gore The Cherokee Nation v. Georgia Dred Scott v. Sandford Gideon v. Wainwright Korematsu v. United States Marbury v. Madison Plessy v. Ferguson Roe v. Wade Rumsfeld v. Padilla.
