Learning Constitutional Law

Learning Constitutional Law provides students with a comprehensive exploration of the core articles and amendments of the U.S. Constitution establishing the structure of the federal and state governments and select rights. Students learn how they are interpreted and applied, relevant history, and the arc of their development. The opening examines Article III of the Constitution, the case and controversy requirement for federal courts, the standing doctrine, and the justiciability of political questions. Additional chapters explore Article I, which gives Congress its powers; Article II, the source of executive power; separation of powers; and what powers the Tenth Amendment gives states. Students learn how the Constitution protected slavery until the Civil War Amendments ended it; how the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits racial, gender, and sexual orientation discrimination; and how the First Amendment protects rights related to speech, assembly, and petition. The final chapter discusses the First Amendment's two religion clauses. Providing students with a thorough introduction, Learning Constitutional Law is a critical resource for courses and programs in law.