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Constitutional politics is the continued search for equilibrium between the grants of power and the limits placed on that power. The Supreme Court is in charge of the search and the U.S. Constitution is the court’s frame of reference. Too often the study of the constitution is fragmented, focusing on single articles or clauses. Essentials of Constitutional Law examines the five closely integrated components which make up the fundamental law: the Compact, Separation of Powers, Federalism, Representation and the Bill of Rights. It is the interaction between these components that give the constitution its dynamism. Landmark decisions handed down by the supreme court involve two or more of these components.This book’s unique approach shows how the components more often than not work together, one assisting another, one explaining another or one reinforcing another. For example in Marbury v. Madison, Chief Justice John Marshall’s discussion of the original compact authorizing the Constitution permits the court to exercise judicial review, a power which places the high bench on an equal footing with the other branches of government. The Compact affects the Separation of Powers. This text gives a firm foundation for students wishing to take advanced courses in Constitutional Law or Civil Liberties as well as providing an overall view of the fundamental principals of the American Constitution.
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