Originalism in American Law and Politics: A Constitutional History

This book explains how the debate over originalism emerged from the interaction of constitutional theory, U.S. Supreme Court decisions, and American political development. Refuting the contention that originalism is a recent concoction of political conservatives like Robert Bork, Johnathan O'Neill asserts that recent appeals to the origin of the Constitution in Supreme Court decisions and commentary, especially by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, continue an established pattern in American history.

Originalism in American Law and Politics is distinguished by its historical approach to the topic. Drawing on constitutional commentary and treatises, Supreme Court and lower federal court opinions, congressional hearings, and scholarly monographs, O'Neill's work will be valuable to historians, academic lawyers, and political scientists.

Author: Johnathan O'Neill
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 09/01/2007
Pages: 296
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.96lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.67d
ISBN: 9780801887604

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 02/01/2008 pg. 186
Choice 02/01/2008 pg. 1241

About the Author

Johnathan O'Neill is an assistant professor of history at Georgia Southern University.

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