Through a close analysis of legislative proceedings and of the precise language used, Maltz builds a strong case that Congressional actions on civil rights, including statutes such as the Freedman's Bureau Bill, the District of Columbia ...

The author begins with the birth of civil rights - the circumstances, acts and legacy of the 39th Congress, constitutional origins, passage and structure of the Act, moves through the Fourteenth Amendment and into restrictive ...

This book investigates the Clause in a textualist-originalist manner, an approach increasingly popular among both academics and judges, to examine the meanings actually expressed by the text in its original context.

The text's thematic organization reveals the structural and normative features of the Constitution and constitutional law by linking them to contemporary issues and controversies. Key historical elements lend context and depth.

In addition, the authors work to promote a general rather than technically legal understanding of the issues involved in an effort to make the material accessible to everyone, especially those with limited knowledge of the legal system.