Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies (Aspen Student Treatise Series) 4th Edition

As a future law student I bought this book based off a recommendation from current and former law students and I would recommend it to anybody planning on starting law school or interested in constitutional law.The book does a good job at demonstrating the complicated, (often) contradictory, interwoven, and (at times) arbitrary nature of Constitutional law in a way that is both well written and concise.

Best Con law supplement I have read. I used this before I took Con Law when I was doing research for a professor and I found it so helpful. I wanted to keep reading it because it was so well written it made the law and history come to life, yet it was quick reading (and I am a slow reader! Which means case books can be a nightmare for me!) Easier to manage than his treatise which is 4 or 5 volumes! I find it be a good balance of the "basics" for when you feel clueless or you want to skim/review and also digging deeper when you know the material but what to "round it out" to make sure your grasp is firm. It goes in depth, but not so much that you feel like you are going down some rabbit hole that will ultimately be irrelevant to your final. I read this every week or so because I hate my casebook, and I feel like it never goes too far off but also doesn't just skim the surface like some supplements that don't challenge you or add to your understanding at all.This came highly recommended to me by a professor and several students. I thank them very much, it has been one of the best supplements of any subject, and I used a lot my 1L year (my law school teaches Con law your 2L year) esp as I work in the law library, I tried a lot out.I wish this was our case book. I think, at least for how my con law class is taught (which is not case book specific, per se), I could read this supplement and not even open the case book and still ace the class. Not that I would suggest that for everyone, but that is how much I value this supplement.

Some context setting: I'm not a lawyer, or a formal law student. I have interest in U.S Constitutional Law, and purchased this book to pursue that interest. I bought this book after reading reviews on Amazon, and searching inside the book to read some sections, and finally, borrowing an older edition from a law library. So I knew exactly what to expect, and I wasn't disappointed.This is a well-written book, with fairly clear explanations that are easy to understand. It covers most of the basics of constitutional law in a single volume, provides several examples to illustrate legal interpretations, and can quickly get the average reader to appreciate, understand, and to some extent speak authoritatively on constitutional law (U.S).On the improvement side, I'd have liked to see a more innovative way of indexing all the cases, with cross-reference to the constitutional principle or holding relevant to the case.Recommend this to any reader that wants to develop a solid understanding of U.S Constitutional Law. It's a good "starter book" that can help you to think objectively through the merits of a case, apply appropriate constitutional principles, and evaluate that versus Supreme Court decisions. Also, it's a good companion to a casebook for Con Law.

Con law is a real pain in the ass. This book really helps you sort through it all and understand con law. It helps you synthesize the line of cases and follow the progression of the rule.I looked at other supplements including emanuel and Examples & Explanations this book seems to be the best hands down. it doesn't short cut or skimp on explaining the cases.(a problem i sometimes find in E&E and emanuel) You have to understand that there is a lot depth to con law and there are a lot of gray areas. It isn't like contracts where you get a black and white rule of law. You need a supplement that provides that depth of coverage, which is one of the things that i think distinguishes it from other supplements. It is expensive, but i used it for my 1L con law class and i am now using it for my 1st amendment class and my law and religion class. So, if you plan on advanced con law courses this is a really good long term investment. As you can see from the other reviews this book comes highly recommended. JUST GET IT and save yourself from the agony of con law.

If you need a great Con Law supplement, then look no farther, you have arrived. This book lays out summaries of all the relevant cases that dictated constitutional interpretation and the way the const. is applied these days. It cogently goes through all the information in a great manner. It is an easy read for such a complicated subject. I have bough many other supplements for this subject and really nothing comes close to this. Also, dont get intimidated by the size, you can basically find the section you need and learn what you have to, no need to read hundreds of these pages if you just need clarification. This book has taught me much more than my casebook, BUY IT!!!

You should buy this book, simply because it's a good supplement and the best con law book, but it won't be all that helpful, unfortunately. I would just use the library copy or borrow it from a friend, or simply make a list of the ten items you have questions about and corner your con law professor for an hour and make him/her explain everything.

My con law class was a joke and I do not know what I would have done without this book. Though it is long, con law is a huge class and this text is comprehensive. I read every section that my class covered and skimmed the rest (woo 1L spring break?), but it was totally work it. Chemerinsky lays out every topic clearly and helps break down really difficult concept into easy to follow sections. He uses clear explanations, and the reading does go by quickly and easily. The sections also reference/discuss most seminal cases, so it is comprehensive re: studying for finals because he most likely covers the theory and actual case law your class covers.