Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Constitution and constitutional argument -- The courts and judicial review -- Executive power and the separation between executive and congressional power -- The federal system : introduction and basic concepts -- Congress and congressional powers -- The commerce clause -- Commerce and the states : the dormant commerce clause, federal preemption, and the privileges and immunities clause -- Federal regulation of the states -- Liberty and property : the due process, takings, and contracts clauses -- Equal protection -- Freedom of speech, press, and assembly -- Government and religious freedom -- Civil rights enforcement -- The State action requirement -- Constitution of the United States.

"Understanding Constitutional Law is a succinct but comprehensive treatment of constitutional law topics typically encountered in a first-year constitutional law class. The book provides the current black letter law doctrines alongside the historical background needed to understand them and the major lines of dissenting thought. It explains the methodological approaches the Court has taken to the topics it covers and is interspersed with commentary to help readers understand both those approaches and the rules they generate. Thus, the book is ideal for both students beginning their education in constitutional law and those seeking a deeper understanding. It's also suitable for practitioners seeking a sourcebook to help them analyze the constitutional law issues confronting them. The sixth edition features extensive treatment of all the significant changes in constitutional law that have occurred over the last several years, in areas including but not limited to Congress's power to create causes of action satisfying Article III's standing requirement, the President's immunity from criminal prosecution, the evolving status of the dormant Commerce Clause doctrine, the overruling of the due process right to abortion, the current status of race-based affirmative action in university admissions, the expansion of Free Exercise Clause protections, and the Court's first extended statement about the free speech rights of social media platforms. For ease of use, the new edition has eliminated coverage of some cases that have been overruled or have faded in importance while retaining slimmed down discussions of older cases that remain influential even in the face of new doctrine announced by the Court"-- Provided by publisher.