American Constitutional Law: Powers and Liberties, Eighth Edition

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Authors

Calvin R. Massey
Brannon P. Denning

Series / Aspen Casebook Series

BOOKMARK

Book length

1430 pages

Publication Date

2025-11-21

Edition

Eighth Edition

Description

Table of contents

Preface

Buy a new version of this textbook and receive access to the Connected eBook with Study Center on Casebook Connect, including academic lifetime access to the online ebook with highlight, annotation, and search capabilities. Access also includes practice questions, an outline tool, and other helpful resources. Connected eBooks provide what you need most to be successful in your law school classes.

American Constitutional Law: Powers and Liberties provides a broad survey of the field without overwhelming students. The basics of constitutional theory are presented without getting mired in highly theoretical discussions, and cases are tightly edited to focus on the most important aspects, with additional cases on select topics condensed into narrative summaries. The book focuses on cases and expository text rather than extensive academic commentary, and introductory text provides direction to students as they read and analyze the materials that follow. Additionally, challenging hypotheticals are provided throughout the text for use as student self-assessments or to launch stimulating class discussions. This highly teachable book can be used for a one- or two-semester course and is easily adaptable to suit each professor’s preferences.

New to the Eighth Edition:

Updated through the Supreme Court’s 2024-25 Term
Includes excerpts of major cases, including Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, Limited; Trump v. United States; Students for Fair Admission, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College; Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton; and 303 Creative v. Elonis
Continues to battle casebook bloat by summarizing or omitting older or outdated cases
Additional material introducing Dobbs and Students for Fair Admissions contextualizing both cases, and the case law that was displaced

Benefits for instructors and students:

Easily adaptable to a one- or two-semester course
“Just-right” editing of major cases, with less important cases summarized in notes or narrative summary
Even-handed presentation of cases so adopters don’t have to “teach against” the text
Narrative introductions provide students with context and organizational structure
Ideologically neutral tone appeals to professors occupying various points on an ideological spectrum
Supplemented annually

Table of Contents

Summary of Contents

Contents
Preface to the Eighth Edition
Preface to the Seventh Edition
Preface to the Sixth Edition
Preface to the Fifth Edition
Preface to the Fourth Edition
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition

The Constitution of the United States

PART I THE ROLE OF THE COURTS IN CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION
Chapter 1.    Judicial Review and Constitutional Structure
Chapter 2.    Doctrines Limiting the Scope of Judicial Review

PART II    ENFORCING THE CONSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATION OF GOVERNMENT POWER
Chapter 3.    The Limits of Federal Legislative Power: Judicially or Politically Enforceable Federalism?
Chapter 4.    Limiting the Scope of State Power over Interstate Commerce
Chapter 5.    Separation of Powers

PART III    INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: LIMITS ON THE USE OF GOVERNMENTAL POWER
Chapter 6.    Due Process
Chapter 7.    Economic Rights: The Takings and Contracts Clauses
Chapter 8.    Equal Protection
Chapter 9.    Free Expression of Ideas
Chapter 10.    The Religion Clauses
Chapter 11.    State Action and the Power to Enforce Constitutional Rights
Chapter 12.    The Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Table of Cases
Index

Preface

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About the authors

Calvin Massey

Daniel Webster Professor

University of New Hampshire

Professor Massey was a product of small towns in the mountains of the American West. He was a graduate of Whitman College, Harvard Business School, and Columbia Law School, and practiced law in San Francisco for a dozen years before joining the Hastings faculty in 1987. Among his books are American Constitutional Law: Powers and Liberties and Silent Rights: The Ninth Amendment and the Constitution's Unenumerated Rights. He also authored some 50 articles, most of which involve matters of constitutional law. Professor Massey taught Constitutional Law, Property, Trusts and Estates, and Corporations. Professor Massey was the first Daniel Webster Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of New Hampshire School of Law.

Product Information

Edition

Eighth Edition

Publication date

2025-11-21

2026

Pages

1430

Connected eBook with Study Center (Digital Only)

9798894103792

Connected eBook with Study Center + Hardcover

9798894103785

Subject

Constitutional Law