Civil Rights and Liberties in the 21st Century

This textbook provides students with an understandable and concise analysis of the U.S Supreme Court’s landmark rulings on civil rights and liberties through a discussion of the context, legal issues, constitutional questions and opinions of these cases. The book encourages critical thinking through landmark recent case examples that contextualize the myriad competing social, legal, and political interests that influence judicial rulings. Controversial rulings are framed through the perspective of the Court as a Cultural Tribunal—one which over time alternatively extends or restricts and periodically redefines constitutional rights and freedoms. In comparing the current Roberts Court to its predecessors and looking towards the future, author John Domino explores when, how, and why the Constitution is invoked in historical and contemporary debates on immigration, voting, surveillance and national security, reproductive health, gender and sexuality, affirmative action, the freedoms of expression, religion, and assembly, and more. Each chapter includes new-to-this-edition discussion questions and features numerous short excerpts from some of the more influential, eloquent, and controversial Supreme Court opinions. Illustrating the complex history of American civil rights and liberties in the United States, this book serves as a core textbook for courses on civil liberties and civil rights, and a supplementary text in courses on constitutional law and the judiciary.