Cambridge University Press The Practice of American Constitutional Law

Review 'Jefferson Powell's latest book is the most important work on constitutional law in decades. This imaginative work focuses on the actual practices that unite us, rather than the theoretical disputes that divide us. In a brilliant reexamination of historic cases, Powell shows us how the law has evolved in the real world of a functioning constitution. This book is not merely for lawyers. Everyone who is interested in understanding how the Constitution actually works will benefit from the wisdom Powell brings to this subject.' Walter Dellinger, former acting Solicitor General of the United States; Partner, O'Melveny & Myers, LLP 'This book is an important contribution to the current (often polemically charged) discourse on American constitutional law. Lucidly presented, Powell's book focuses on American constitutional argumentation as it is actually practiced by constitutional lawyers and judges. His close examination of the case law demonstrates a remarkable stability over time as to what constitutes legitimate argument. Though written for the legendary 'intelligent reader,' seasoned experts will benefit from this book.' Henry P. Monaghan, Harlan Fiske Stone Professor of Constitutional Law, Columbia Law School 'Reading Jeff Powell's beautiful, learned, and astonishingly comprehensive book transformed my sense of what constitutional law is and how it works. It should be read by every judge, lawyer, and indeed citizen of this country. When law itself is under threat in our world, he shows us what it is and why it is so important.' James Boyd White, L. Hart Wright Professor of Law Emeritus and Professor of English Emeritus, University of Michigan; author of The Legal Imagination and Keep Law Alive About the Author H. Jefferson Powell is a professor of law at Duke University. He is the former Principal Deputy Solicitor General and a former deputy assistant attorney general in the US Department of Justice. His books include A Community Built on Words: The Constitution in History and Politics (2003), Constitutional Conscience: The Moral Dimension of Judicial Decision (2008), The President as Commander in Chief: An Essay in Constitutional Vision (2013), and Targeting Americans: The Constitutionality of the U.S. Drone War (2016).