Illuminating concepts in plain language, eliminating unnecessary legal jargon, and clarifying nuances in the law, this new edition simplifies understanding of the united states judicial system. It includes decisions by the supreme court of the united states since the first edition as well as a discussion on the current makeup and policy of the supreme court. Review questions and relevant cases in each chapter illustrate legal applications of each topic while highlighting the most important issues regarding the constitution and its application in the judicial system.