The book is organized into seven chapters. The first provides an introductory discussion of law, the Constitution, and the structure and role of the judiciary in American politics. Here and throughout the book, each case is set up with an able and interesting introduction. The cases have gone through fairly extensive editing to fit the abbreviated format, but still do a good job of conveying the gist of the decision. In the book as a whole, chapters and cases within chapters are organized in a largely ahistorical format which will frustrate teachers who attempt to portray the development of the court over time.
Judicial review is covered in the second chapter.
Here, the authors provide an enlightening and more widely needed discussion that clarifies the relationship between activist and restrained jurists, on the one hand, and liberal and conservative ones, on the other. While contemporary students tend to believe that liberals are activists and conservatives are restrained, Steamer and Maiman clearly show that there are both restrained liberals and active conservatives. Unfortunately the discussion stops short of the contemporary Supreme Court, which is probably what students most need and want to talk about. As will befit many political scientists' approach to constitutional law, this is by far the longest chapter in the book. The final three chapters cover freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and equal protection.