Essential Supreme Court Decisions: Summaries of Leading Cases in U.S. Constitutional Law - Softcover

John R. Vile is professor of political science at Middle Tennessee State University. He is the author or editor of numerous books on political science and constitutional law, including Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, The Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, and A Companion to the U.S. Constitution and Its Amendments.

The 15th edition of Essential Supreme Court Decisions is the most comprehensive collection of Supreme Court decisions in print. John Vile has admirably carried on the great tradition of this volume, distilling the greatest decisions of the Supreme Court into easy-to-read briefs that explain the context, facts, issues, reasoning, and significance for each. This is an indispensable volume for scholars and professors who want to know and understand what the Court has said and why in its most important cases. The beauty of Essential Supreme Court Decisions is in how easy it is to read, how comprehensive the coverage, and how scholarly and balanced the treatment of the decisions are. (David Schultz, Hamline University and Journal of Public Affairs Education)

Having worn well for more than half-a-century, Essential Supreme Court Decisions continues to bring a much needed, comprehensive, no nonsense, no frills, format for studying basic elements of constitutional law. No wonder that it has been so popular with students and faculty alike. (Henry J. Abraham, James Hart Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia)

The 15th edition of Essential Supreme Court Decisions remains the most comprehensive single collection of the Court's decisions. As with earlier editions, it is indispensable for the study of the work of the Supreme Court. Decisions are organized by constitutional articles, the Bill of Rights, and amendments. For example, chapter 8 includes decisions ranging from Barron v. Baltimore (1833) to Duncan v. Louisiana (1968), all of which address the application of provisions of the Bill of Rights to the various states. Each chapter includes an analysis of the relevant decisions and the context in which the Court acted. Appendixes provide the text of the Constitution, a glossary of legal terms, an alphabetical listing of cases, and a chronological listing of cases by chief justice. The ratified amendments to the Constitution are listed as 'articles,' reflecting the drafting terminology of 'articles of amendment.' Thus readers find in the constitutional text 'Article I,' ratified in 1791, which includes the Bill of Rights provisions commonly known as the First Amendment. Though this may be misleading for some readers, it does not represent a textual flaw in this excellent collection. Summing Up: Essential. (CHOICE)