1st Edition

Contemporary Perspectives On Constitutional Interpretation

    278 Pages
    by Routledge

    280 Pages
    by Routledge

    Current controversies over abortion, affirmative action, school prayer, hate speech, and other issues have sparked considerable public debate about how the U.S. Constitution should be interpreted. Such controversies, along with the changing composition of an often deeply divided Supreme Court, have led to a resurgence of interest in theories of constitutional interpretation. This anthology, edited by Susan J. Brison and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, presents some of the most exciting and influential contemporary work in this area. Written by ten of the country's most prominent legal scholars, the selections represent a wide variety of interpretive approaches, reflecting different political orientations from the far right to the far left. These theorists have drawn on a variety of other disciplines, including literature, economics, history, philosophy, and politics, and have in turn influenced these fields. The selections were chosen for their accessibility, originality, variety, and importance. Together they provide an excellent introduction to constitutional interpretation as well as a valuable collection for experienced scholars in the field.

    Credits -- A Philosophical Introduction to Constitutional Interpretation -- The Nature of Constitutional Interpretation -- Originalism -- Common Law Method -- Pragmatism -- Law as Integrity -- Critical Race Theory -- Feminist Legal Theory -- Deconstruction -- Critical Legal Studies -- Scepticism -- Suggestions for Further Reading

    Biography

    Susan J Brison