Highlights
More primary source material and pedagogical features
This Seventh Edition of Constitutional Law and Politics includes much more material than other competing casebooks. There are more case excerpts—including more concurring and dissenting opinions of the justices—more case headnotes, more topical introductions, and more Special Feature Boxes.
Many New Cases
This Seventh Edition has been updated with many new cases, including some classics and a number of recent Supreme Court decisions. These recent cases deal with fundamental issues such as abortion (Gonzales v. Carhart), racial integration in schools (Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1), Federal funding of faith-based projects (Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc.), and the restrictions of the McCain-Feingold law (Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc).
Historical and Political Introductions and Headnotes
Political Science students require texts that place their study of Constitutional Law into the broader contexts of American politics and history. O’Brien sets each case in context, noting throughout any social or technological factors relevant to the study of these contemporary Supreme Court rulings.
Special Feature Boxes
Special Feature Boxes provide additional context for the cases. This Seventh Edition includes 9 new boxes.
- Development of Law boxes trace a particular legal topic over time to show how current law developed. For example, "Other Post–Roe Rulings on Abortion" presents over 20 rulings on the abortion question from 1973 to present. In the new edition O’Brien traces the development of the National Security Agency’s warrantless electronic surveillance.
- Constitutional History boxes present background material on certain topics or events, such as the Watergate affair, Sunday closing laws, and capital punishment, which raised important constitutional questions when they came before the Court. New examples include a discussion of major rulings on the first amendment rights of students.
- Inside the Court boxes offer students a privileged look at oral arguments and unpublished memoranda and opinions often made available only through the release of Justices’ personal papers after they have left the Court. One of the new boxes traces the discussion over eminent domain that the judges engaged in Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff (1984) and in Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut (2005).
- In Comparative Perspective boxes reveal how American constitutional law compares to other countries in regard to topics such as judicial review, federalism, free speech, the free exercise of religion, gay rights, and capital punishment. New boxes include discussions of jury systems around the world, blasphemy and hate speech, and rulings on the detention of terrorists.
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