The Judiciary and American Democracy by Kenneth D. Ward, Ceci... - 9780791465561

The Judiciary and American DemocracyAlexander Bickel, the Countermajoritarian Difficulty, and Contemporary Constitutional Theory\nAuthor(s): Kenneth D. Ward, Cecilia R. Castillo\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: State University of New York Press, United States\nImprint: State University of New York Press\nISBN-13: 9780791465561, 978-0791465561\nSynopsis\nExamines recent debates in constitutional theory in light of the work of Alexander Bickel.\n\nThe role courts should play in American democracy has long been contested, fueling debates among citizens who take an active interest in politics. Alexander Bickel made a significant contribution to these debates with his seminal publication, The Least Dangerous Branch, which framed the problem of defending legitimate judicial authority. This book addresses whether or not the countermajoritarian difficulty outlined in Bickel's work continues to have significance for constitutional theory almost a half-century later. The contributors illustrate.