This new 8th edition of Constitutional Law in a Nutshell serves as an updated guide and summary of constitutional law. Expert authors summarize judicial review and its limits, national legislative powers, state power in American federalism, Congress and the executive power, due process of law, equal protection, freedom of expression and religion, state action, and controversial Supreme Court cases. For example, this edition features the opinions of the Justices of the Supreme Court opinions in the Affordable Care Act decision, National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012).
This edition discusses the impact of the decision on the law concerning the Taxing Power, the Spending Clause and the Commerce Clause. Also, highlighted are extensive case discussions illustrating the Supreme Court's continuing focus on the First Amendment. These cases include the funeral picketing case, Snyder v. Phelps (2011), the dog fight video case, United States v. Stevens (2010), the video games case, Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association (2011) and a case dealing with the conflict between freedom of expression and national security, Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (2010). In short, landmark Supreme Court cases, past and present, in these and other areas of constitutional law are presented in a concise, comprehensive readable and informative way.