The Supreme Court and the Attitudinal Model

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. BA1 - A first edition (First published 1993 stated) hardcover book in very good condition that has some bumped corners, some scattered stains and smudge on the cover and page edges, some light wrinkling patches on some inside pages, light discoloration and shelf wear with no dust jacket. 9.5"x6.25", 390 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. The behavior and decision-making processes of the U.S. Supreme Court have often been examined using the legal model, which holds that Supreme Court decisions are based on the "plain meaning" of the Constitution, the intent of the framers, and precedent. In this book, Professors Segal and Spaeth investigate the decisions and the decision-making processes of the Supreme Court using an alternative framework: the attitudinal model, which holds that Supreme Court decisions are based on the attitudes and values of the justices. Using the highly reliable U.S. Supreme Court Judicial Database, compiled by Professor Spaeth, the authors examine all stages of the Court's decision-making processes, from staffing and access to case selection, votes on the merits, opinion assignments and opinion coalitions, and judicial restraint and activism, and succeed in explaining and predicting behavior with a great degree of accuracy. They also include a framework for understanding the impact of judicial decisions and the place of the Court in the American political system. By using an attitudinal model to explain the justices' decision making and that of other policy makers, this book demythologizes the Court and its decisions while greatly extending our knowledge and understanding.. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.