Constitutional Law For Dummies Book

Introduction 1

Part I: Studying Constitutional Law: The Foundations 9

Chapter 1: Understanding the Constitution 11

Chapter 2: Constitutional Law: A View from 30,000 Feet 33

Chapter 3: Mapping Out Key Concepts and Distinctions in Constitutional Law 49

Part II: Allocating Governmental Roles 59

Chapter 4: “Constituting” a New Federal Government 61

Chapter 5: Charting the Reach of National Government Powers 83

Chapter 6: Sorting Out National Powers: Inter-Branch Conflict and Cooperation 105

Chapter 7: The Constitution and Federalism 125

Part III: Protecting Property Rights and Avoiding Arbitrary Action141

Chapter 8: Avoiding Arbitrary Government Action: Due Process of Law 143

Chapter 9: Protecting Property: Land, Contracts, and Guns 161

Chapter 10: Preventing Government from Discriminating 177

Part IV: Rights to Self-Expression and Political Participation 199

Chapter 11: "Express Yourself!" Freedom of Speech 201

Chapter 12: The Constitution and Religion 225

Chapter 13: Getting Involved: Voting and Becoming or Supporting a Candidate 247

Part V: Understanding Privacy Rights 263

Chapter 14: Implied Privacy Rights — Fundamental and Otherwise 265

Chapter 15: Preventing Unreasonable Searches and Seizures 289

Chapter 16: The Right against Self-Incrimination 311

Part VI: The Part of Tens 331

Chapter 17: Ten Landmark Court Decisions about Governmental Structure 333

Chapter 18: Ten (Plus Three) Top Individual-Rights Cases 341