"Well-written, concise and comprehensive.... should be welcomed with gratitude by everyone interested in drafting a better understanding of the role of judicial review in the American political system". -- Law Books in Review

This is the first reference series that makes understanding civil liberties and constitutional law completely accessible to the layperson. The author expertly guides readers through actual cases decided by the Supreme Court in four key areas of the U.S. Constitution. Each volume features an overview of court decisions by both the agreeing and dissenting justices, plus
-- a glossary of legal terms
-- a thorough, research-oriented index
-- a copy of the U.S. Constitution
-- publications recommended for further reading

Students learn about the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment and discover how just 16 words in the U.S. Constitution inaugurated a debate that continues to this day. The author objectively follows the debate in relation to prayer in public schools, government support for religious schools, the right to speak and raise money for religious causes, when religion conflicts with the law, and where this issue stands today.

What sort of communicative activities are actually covered and specifically protected by the Constitution? What is a public forum? What is the clear and present danger test for political free speech? How are the courts grappling with a definition for obscenity? What are the rights of the press? What is commercial speech? When does the right to privacy overrule the right to free press? Are picket lines the same as demonstrations? These are just a few of the questions students will think about as they study how the Supreme Court has responded to these issues over the past century.