United States Constitutional Law

The great liberties and guarantees of the United States Constitution are stated as general principles, to be perpetuated and reapplied in a changing America. This book provides a basic understanding of Constitutional law, addressing both the history of the U.S. Constitution and each of its individual clauses. It explains the power of the Supreme Court, whereby a bare majority of five justices, each with lifetime tenure, can overrule the president, the Congress, and state and local governments—effectively declaring the rights and obligations of persons and organizations across the land. Referencing more than 950 Supreme Court decisions, the book treats each subject objectively and without opinionated commentary.

The late Paul Rodgers was former executive director of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and commissioner of the President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection. He lived in Virginia.

Paul Rodgers
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 300
Bibliographic Info: appendices, bibliography, indexes
Copyright Date: 2011
pISBN: 978-0-7864-5940-7
eISBN: 978-0-7864-6017-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi
Preface      1
Prologue: Events Leading to the Ratification of the Constitution      5

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES      13
Preamble      15
Article I: The Legislative Branch      16
Article II: The Executive Branch      63
Article III: The Judicial Branch      83
Article IV: State Relations      97
Article V: The Amendment Process      103
Article VI: The Supremacy of the Constitution      105
Article VII: The Ratification Process      108
Amendments to the Constitution      110

Appendix A: Supreme Court Justices, 1789–2010      241
Appendix B: Text of the Constitution      245
Bibliography      269
Index of Cases      271
General Index      281

• “Superb…highly recommended”—Choice
• “Constitutional law is a vast subject, and this is a comprehensive survey…generally avoids legal jargon”—Library Journal
• “Examines each of the articles and amendments to the US Constitution, to provide a basic understanding of it, its power, and its function…explains each clause in order, with discussion of about 950 related Supreme Court decisions…complete text of the Constitution is supplied”—Reference & Research Book News.