Leading cases in constitutional law : a compact casebook for a short course

Published annually, this book-Leading Cases in Constitutional Law typically includes all the significant opinions handed down during the Supreme Court's most recent Term, as well as previous Terms. The authors of this compact volume also produce a nearly 1800-page constitutional law casebook, but we have repeatedly heard some colleagues express the need for a shorter, less expensive. more bare-bones book for a basic course in constitutional law. This book fills the gap that our colleagues identified. By judicious editing of the most important decisions of the Supreme Court and careful summarizing of less significant cases, we have encompassed the "essentials" for a constitutional law course in this paperback volume.

This book's organization is very similar to that of our much larger and more traditional one, which includes an abundance of Notes and Comments. That larger book should serve as a resource for those who use this volume. Like the latest edition of the larger book, the selection of cases and organization of this book reflect fresh evaluations of the relevant materials. New cases have replaced old ones where appropriate, and additions have been balanced by judicious cuts. Especially large reorganizations have occurred in Chapter 6, on Individual Rights, Chapter 7, on Freedoms of Expression and Association, Chapter 10, on The Concept of State Action, and Chapter 11, on Congressional Enforcement of Civil Rights.

Cases and statutory citations, as well as footnotes of the Court, have sometimes been omitted without specification; other omissions are indicated by asterisks or by brackets. The Court's footnotes are so identified. All other footnotes are ours.