This casebook focuses upon Supreme Court opinions and other primary documents, offering comprehensive coverage of almost all major areas of constitutional doctrine. For decades, the distinctive pedagogical essence of the book - its commitment to providing as much of the raw case, constitutional provision, statutory and historical note material as is practical - has allowed teachers the freedom to structure the course in their own ways, and has encouraged students to formulate their own generalizations directly from the materials. It covers all major topics, including the role of the federal judiciary, separation of powers, federalism, the noncriminal aspects of the Bill of Rights, and the Reconstruction Amendments.