The American legal system is the most significant in the world today, yet until recently there had not been a book that provided both the basic rules and the theoretical understanding necessary to comprehend it. Now, supplies these concepts to a number of audiences, ranging from students and scholars of law to business people and government officials; from those whose work regularly involves legal issues and who want to understand the law better than they do now, to the general reader who wants to gain a stronger appreciation of our legal system.

In twenty-three chapters, the book looks at the overarching principles of American law, the seven subject areas primarily governed by the States, and the eight areas governed by Federal Law. Each chapter is written by an acknowledged expert in that area. All of the authors are on the faculty of the New York University School of Law, regarded as one of the elite law schools in America, and this work is offered as an element of its unique Global Law School Program.

The book not only provides the reader with a solid foundation of American law, but will also serve as a basic reference book for years to come. is one volume anyone will want to have on hand to gain an understanding of our legal system.