The Supreme Court has been at the center of American political and legal controversy for two hundred years. From Marbury v. Madison to Roe v. Wade and beyond, the court has decided matters of slavery, freedom of speech, criminal rights, privacy rights and civil rights. Battles over confirmation, and struggles between the President and the court have been at the center of some of the most dramatic constitutional crises in American history. Andrew Jackson's battles with Justice Marshall, Roosevelt's failed attempt to "pack" the court, and the court's vital role in Nixon's Watergate crisis are only a few of the dramatic moments in this fascinating story.As the only affordable one-volume study of the court available, this book feels a real void. It covers, in plain English, the whole panorama of the court's nearly 200 years of decision and debate, and includes biographies of every justice; a complete and concise history of the court; the 100 most important decisions, as well as the ten worst decisions; a detailed analysis of how one case makes its way through the court; a study of the people, the clerks, the support staff and the politics of the court's day-to-day operations, a complete glossary of legal terms, and a detailed bibliography.The Supreme Court: A Citizen's Guide is an indispensable book for American history scholars, legal buffs and everyone seeking a better understanding of the people, politics, and traditions of this vital institution. Read Less