NCJ Number
158524
Date Published
1995
Length
466 pages
Annotation
This overview of U.S. constitutional law addresses the allocation of power between Federal and State governments as well as constitutional limitations on governmental power in provisions for individual rights and liberties.
Abstract
In discussing the allocation of power between Federal and State governments, a chapter on judicial review considers the establishment of judicial review, the source of judicial power, constitutional and policy limitations on judicial review, and specific doctrines that limit judicial review. Another chapter considers national legislative powers, including the scope of such power, commerce power, the taxing power, the spending power, and intergovernmental immunities. A chapter on State power in American federalism focuses on the State power to regulate commerce and to tax commerce. Congress and executive power are discussed in a fourth chapter. Seven chapters that address constitutional limitations on governmental power provide a historical perspective of the development of these limitations and describe the constitutional parameters of various individual rights and liberties. These include due process of law, equal protection of the laws, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. Two chapters discuss State action in matters of individual rights and liberties and congressional legislation to aid civil rights and liberties. Each chapter has review questions. Appended answers to review questions, a practice examination, a text correlation chart, a glossary, a table of cases, and a subject index