The Constrained Court: Law, Politics, and the Decisions Justices Make Paperback - 2011

From the rear cover

"Do Supreme Court justices base their decisions on law or politics? Using clever measurement strategies and relentless coding of cases, Bailey and Maltzman answer this question: both. They are to be commended for careful political science that also takes the idea of law seriously. This book is a must-read for scholars and students who care about what motivates the justices of the Supreme Court."--Barry Friedman, New York University

"Using innovative methods, Bailey and Maltzman address fundamental issues about the forces that shape Supreme Court decisions. The book's findings are striking, and the authors' discussions of issues and findings are interesting and insightful. This is one of the best and most important books yet written about judicial behavior."--Lawrence Baum, Ohio State University

"This is one of a small number of the finest books I have read on judicial politics. It uses cutting-edge methods and smart arguments to bring an impressive and sophisticated perspective on political behavior to the study of the Supreme Court. Debunking the most extreme views of political scientists, it will attract a lot of attention."--Gregory Caldeira, Ohio State University

"The Constrained Court marks a major contribution to our understanding of the behavior of the U.S. Supreme Court. Providing important methodological innovations and previously unexplored findings, the authors examine novel ways in which external constraints limit the Court. This book genuinely breaks new ground."--Kevin T. McGuire, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill