Law Society Politics

This book explores critical questions pertaining to the character and content of the “American People” as posited in the US Supreme Court’s interpretation of the fundamental law. What exactly is an American? Who or what comprise the People? What are the constitutive sociocultural, political, and economic ordering principles of the American People and society? How does the Court impact the nationalist character and content of law and policy? From a sociocultural, economic, political, and ideological perspective, the Court’s singular proclamations as to what the US Constitution means, what is its purpose, and how it is to be perceived and implemented have profound consequences for representational politics and notions of what exactly constitutes the American polity. This book employs a critical, conceptual, and structural approach, critically examining the notion of the People in constitutional discourse, and its impact on government, politics, law, and society in the present.

"Breaking down into three distinct but related parts, it enters first into a study of the sociology of law. For its starting point this section contends that the law is shaped and reshaped by ever-changing material structures in society. Simultaneously the law works back on these structures to reinforce and conserve them. This materialist thesis is substantiated by an analysis of legal developments in a series of political fields: the development of penal law, financial law and labour protection law amongst others. A close scrutiny of the social organization of the 'legal superstructure', including an amusing and telling analysis of the modes of behaviour of those at the summit of the legal profession, concludes the first section. The dependence of law on the material structure of society cannot be satisfactorily accounted for, however, without also examining the relationship between the law and other systems of ideas, and between those ideas and the social formation in which they appear. Accordingly the central part of this book considers also religion, art and science. The author distinguishes between 'superconstructing' or conserving idea systems and those which enter into a truly dialectical relationship with the material structure to produce a new totality. He argues that in the late capitalist social formation the law is superconstructing whereas science has a dialectical relationship with the world. It remains, however, a political question whether or not dialectical ideas systems are desirable, that is, repression-abolishing. In the final section Mathiesen identifies reform or revolution as a false dichotomy which must be transcended. These chapters are aimed at revitalizing a flagging radical political movement through coherent and cogent discussion of organization and political strategy. In this part of the book the author developes further the notion of the 'unfinished political movement', first conceived in his earlier work The Politics of Abolition (Martin Robertson, 1974). This volume has direct relevance to a broad field of social and political scientists and workers. In particular it should be read by sociologists, social workers, criminologists, lawyers and law students. It will also be of value as text material for courses in the sociology of law and jurisprudence." -- Backcover.

This special issue of Studies in Law, Politics and Society contains two sections, focusing on the interaction between law and religion, together with the ways in which the law simultaneously enhances and inhibits projects of social change.

This text studies the inextricable links between law, society, and politics through an in-depth examination of the institutions for law-making in the United States, focusing on the function, structure, and participants in the process. The institutions-oriented approach focuses on contemporary coverage of the interrelationship between law and society, and includes discussion of controversial topics, such as the influence of race, class, sex, and corporate governance on the law. Law, Politics, and Society also looks at the theoretical and philosophical foundations of American law and provides comparative and international perspectives. Diversity is embedded into each chapter within the readings—drawn from a broad range of interdisciplinary sources such as sociology, history, and medicine—as well as in activities, which encourage discussion about law and race, national origin, sex, and class. In addition, excellent coverage of how the law has changed since September 11, 2001 helps students understand these complex relationships in a tangible way. Popular Culture features use a series of photographs to help students understand how law both informs and is informed by popular culture. Law in Action features apply the concepts of each chapter to an actual law in order to illustrate the central point and to help students better understand theoretical concepts. Pedagogy throughout the text includes active learning exercises, and marginal and bold definitions.

This book explores critical questions pertaining to the character and content of the "American People" as posited in the US Supreme Court's interpretation of the fundamental law. What exactly is an American? Who or what comprise the People? What are the constitutive sociocultural, political, and economic ordering principles of the American People and society? How does the Court impact the nationalist character and content of law and policy? From a sociocultural, economic, political, and ideological perspective, the Court's singular proclamations as to what the US Constitution means, what is its purpose, and how it is to be perceived and implemented have profound consequences for representational politics and notions of what exactly constitutes the American polity. This book employs a critical, conceptual, and structural approach, critically examining the notion of the People in constitutional discourse, and its impact on government, politics, law, and society in the present. Marvin L. Astrada is a Lecturer in the Politics & History Department at New York University in Washington D.C., USA.

Spaceflight is a rational undertaking, yet full of emotions. It is a dream of mankind and a multi-billion industry likewise. It is subject to a distinct branch of law – and moreover part of modern pop culture. In short: spaceflight is fascinating. “Outer Space in society, politics and law” is an inter-disciplinary approach to the understanding of modern space law. Technical, cultural and historical aspects lay the foundation for a sound comprehension why space law norms have been established and what they mean in practice. The reader will realize the impact space and spaceflight have on society – from Stonehenge to climate change. A new approach to presenting space law: comprehensive and illustrative. “We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and yet have cleverly arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. That's a clear prescription for disaster.” Carl Sagan

A core text for the Law and Society or Sociology of Law course offered in Sociology, Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Schools of Law. * John Sutton offers an explicitly analytical perspective to the subject - how does law change? What makes law more or less effective in solving social problems? What do lawyers do? * Chapter 1 contrasts normative and sociological perspectives on law, and presents a brief primer on the logic of research and inference as it is applied to law related issues. * Theories of legal change are discussed within a common conceptual framework that highlights the explantory strengths and weaknesses of different arguments. * Discussions of "law in action" are explicitly comparative, applying a consistent model to explain the variable outcomes of civil rights legislation. * Many concrete, in-depth examples throughout the chapters.

Analyzing the "democratic" features and institutions of the Athenian democracy in the fifth century B.C., Martin Ostwald traces their development from Solon's judicial reforms to the flowering of popular sovereignty, when the people assumed the right both to enact all legislation and to hold magistrates accountable for implementing what had been enacted.