Realms of legal interpretation

core elements and critical variations

Legal norms may forbid, require, or authorize a particular form of behavior. The law of contracts, for example, informs people how to enter into agreements that will bind both sides, and from this we establish legal requirements on how they should behave. In public law ...

Exemptions

necessary, justified, or misguided?

Should laws apply equally to everyone, or should some individuals and organizations be granted exemptions because of conflicting religious or moral convictions? Recently this question hasbecome intensely controversial in America. The Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage, in particular, has provoked barbed debates about ...

Interpreting the Constitution

This third volume about legal interpretation focuses on the interpretation of a constitution, most specifically that of the United States of America. In what may be unique, it combines a generalized account of various claims and possibilities with an examination of major domains of American ...

Legal interpretation

perspectives from other disciplines and private texts

Comparative Legal Interpretation focuses on textual interpretation of the law. All law needs to be interpreted, and there are many ways to do it. Greenawalt covers the dominant methods of legal interpretation, explaining their underlying structure and efficacy. But there are other issues involved. Which ...

Religion and the Constitution. T.1

Free exercise and fairness

Balancing respect for religious conviction and the values of liberal democracy is a daunting challenge for judges and lawmakers, particularly when religious groups seek exemption from laws that govern others. Should members of religious sects be able to use peyote in worship? Should pacifists be ...

Religion and the Constitution.T.2

Establishment and fairness

Balancing respect for religious conviction and the values of liberal democracy is a daunting challenge for judges and lawmakers, particularly when religious groups seek exemption from laws that govern others. Should members of religious sects be able to use peyote in worship? Should pacifists be ...

Religion and the Constitution. Vol. 2

Establishment and fairness

Balancing respect for religious conviction and the values of liberal democracy is a daunting challenge for judges and lawmakers, particularly when religious groups seek exemption from laws that govern others. Should students in public schools be allowed to organize devotional Bible readings and prayers on ...

Religion and the Constitution.Vol.1: Free exercise and fairness

Balancing respect for religious conviction and the values of liberal democracy is a daunting challenge for judges and lawmakers, particularly when religious groups seek exemption from laws that govern others. Should members of religious sects be able to use peyote in worship? Should pacifists be ...