Product Review

This book created the field of the law of democracy, offering a systematic account of the legal construction of American democracy. This edition is the most significant revision in a decade. With the addition of Nathaniel Persily, the book now turns to a changed legal environment following such blockbuster Supreme Court decisions as Citizens United and Shelby County. This edition streamlines the coverage of the Voting Rights Act, expands the scope of coverage of campaign finance and political corruption issues, and turns to the new dispute over voter access to the ballot. The basic structure of the book continues to follow the historical development of the individual right to vote; current struggles over gerrymandering; the relationship of the state to political parties; the constitutional and policy issues surrounding campaign-finance reform; and the tension between majority rule and fair representation of minorities in democratic bodies.